'In The Deep Museum' by Anne Sexton

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My God, my God, what queer corner am I in?

Didn't I die, blood running down the post,

lungs gagging for air, die there for the sin

of anyone, my sour mouth giving up the ghost?

Surely my body is done? Surely I died?

And yet, I know, I'm here. What place is this?

Cold and queer, I sting with life. I lied.

Yes, I lied. Or else in some damned cowardice

my body would not give me up. I touch

fine cloth with my hand and my cheeks are cold.

If this is hell, then hell could not be much,

neither as special or as ugly as I was told.

What's that I hear, snuffling and pawing its way

toward me? Its tongue knocks a pebble out of place

as it slides in, a sovereign. How can I pray>

It is panting; it is an odor with a face

like the skin of a donkey. It laps my sores.

It is hurt, I think, as a I touch its little head.

It bleeds. I have forgiven murderers and whores

and now must wait like old Jonah, not dead

nor alive, stroking a clumsy animal. A rat.

His teeth test me; he waits like a good cook,

knowing his own ground. I forgive him that,

as I forgave my Judas the money he took.

Now I hold his soft red sore to my lips

as his brothers crowd in, hairy angels who take

my gift. My ankles are a flute. I lose hips

and wrists. For three days, for love's sake,

I bless this other death. Oh, not in air --

in dirt. Under the rotting veins of its roots,

under the markets, under the sheep bed where

the hill is food, under the slippery fruits

of the vineyard, I go. Unto the bellies and jaws

of rats I commit my prophecy and fear.

Far below The Cross, I correct its flaws.

We have kept the miracle. I will not be here.

Editor 1 Interpretation

In The Deep Museum: A Masterpiece of Surrealism

Anne Sexton's In The Deep Museum is a poem that takes us on a journey of self-discovery through the eyes of a speaker who is lost in a surrealistic world of museums and memories. With its rich imagery, clever use of metaphor, and hauntingly beautiful language, this poem has become a classic of modern literature.

Background: Who is Anne Sexton?

Before we dive into the analysis of the poem, let's take a moment to introduce the poet herself. Anne Sexton was an American poet who gained widespread popularity in the 1960s and 1970s for her confessional poetry. She was known for her raw and honest depictions of mental illness, family dysfunction, and personal struggles. She wrote extensively about her own experiences with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, and her work is often considered a precursor to the feminist poetry movement.

Sexton's life was a turbulent one, marked by multiple suicide attempts and hospitalizations. She ultimately died by suicide in 1974 at the age of 45. Despite her tragic end, her legacy lives on through her poetry, which continues to inspire readers and writers around the world.

The Poem: An Overview

In The Deep Museum is a haunting and surrealistic poem that explores the themes of memory, identity, and self-discovery. The poem is structured as a series of vignettes, each one depicting a different scene in a museum. The speaker of the poem is a woman who is wandering through this museum, experiencing a wide range of emotions and memories as she does so.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the museum as "deep" and "dark", with "echoing halls" and "distant voices". She is immediately struck by the sense of emptiness and loneliness that pervades the space. As she wanders through the museum, she encounters a series of strange and surreal scenes, each one triggering a different memory or emotion.

One of the most powerful moments in the poem comes when the speaker encounters a series of "rooms" that are filled with ghosts. These ghosts represent the speaker's own past, and they remind her of all the people and experiences that have shaped her into the person she is today. The speaker is overwhelmed by these memories, but she also seems to find comfort in them, as if they are a part of her that she cannot escape.

Throughout the poem, the speaker is searching for something – perhaps a sense of self, or a deeper understanding of her own psyche. She is constantly questioning her own identity, and she is never quite sure who she is or what she wants. At the same time, she is also deeply aware of the passage of time, and she is haunted by the idea that her life is slipping away from her.

Analysis: What Makes In The Deep Museum a Masterpiece

One of the things that makes In The Deep Museum such a powerful poem is its use of surrealistic imagery. The museum itself is a symbol of the speaker's own mind, and the strange and surreal scenes that she encounters represent the various thoughts and emotions that she is grappling with. The use of surrealism allows Sexton to explore these themes in a way that is both metaphorical and visceral.

Another key element of the poem is its focus on memory and identity. The speaker is constantly searching for a sense of self, but she is also deeply aware of the ways in which her past has shaped her. The ghosts in the museum represent the various people and experiences that have influenced her, and they serve as a reminder that she can never fully escape her own history.

The language of the poem is also worth noting. Sexton's use of imagery and metaphor is incredibly evocative, and the poem is filled with hauntingly beautiful lines. For example, consider this passage:

I am a museum full of art but what if you have eyes that cannot see the dark, the silence how can I tell you I am worth anything?

In these lines, the speaker is expressing her own sense of doubt and insecurity. She knows that she is valuable and worthwhile, but she is also aware that not everyone will be able to see that. This passage is both poignant and powerful, and it is a testament to Sexton's skill as a poet.

Conclusion: Why In The Deep Museum Matters

In The Deep Museum is a masterpiece of modern literature, and it continues to resonate with readers today. Its themes of memory, identity, and self-discovery are universal, and its use of surrealism and metaphor help to make those themes feel both immediate and timeless. Through her poetry, Anne Sexton was able to give voice to her own struggles and experiences, and in doing so, she created something that speaks to the human condition in a way that few works of literature ever have. Whether you are a fan of poetry or simply someone who is interested in exploring the complexities of the human psyche, In The Deep Museum is a work that is well worth your time and attention.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

In The Deep Museum: A Poem of Reflection and Regret

Anne Sexton’s poem, In The Deep Museum, is a hauntingly beautiful piece that explores the themes of memory, regret, and the passage of time. Written in 1966, the poem is a reflection on the past, and the ways in which our memories can both comfort and haunt us.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a museum, a place where objects from the past are preserved and displayed for future generations to see. The museum is described as “deep,” suggesting that it is a place of great significance and importance. The speaker then goes on to describe the objects in the museum, which include “a pair of shoes, a doll in a doll’s dress, / a stuffed pheasant, a grandfather clock.”

These objects are all relics of the past, and they serve as a reminder of the passage of time. The shoes, for example, are a symbol of the journeys we take in life, while the doll represents the innocence and purity of childhood. The stuffed pheasant is a reminder of the beauty of nature, while the grandfather clock represents the ticking of time.

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to reflect on her own life, and the ways in which she has been shaped by her experiences. She describes herself as “a woman who has lived too long,” suggesting that she has seen and experienced more than most people. She then goes on to describe the things she has lost over the years, including her youth, her beauty, and her innocence.

The speaker’s tone is one of regret and sadness, as she reflects on the things she has lost and the mistakes she has made. She describes herself as “a woman who has made too many mistakes,” suggesting that she has lived a life filled with regret and missed opportunities.

Despite her regrets, however, the speaker finds comfort in the memories of her past. She describes the memories as “a kind of museum,” suggesting that they are a place where she can go to remember the good times and the people she has loved. She describes the memories as “a place where I can go / to be alone with my thoughts,” suggesting that they are a source of comfort and solace for her.

The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the passage of time, and the inevitability of death. She describes herself as “a woman who will die soon,” suggesting that she is aware of her own mortality. Despite this, however, she finds comfort in the fact that her memories will live on after she is gone. She describes the memories as “a kind of immortality,” suggesting that they are a way for her to live on even after she is gone.

In The Deep Museum is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of memory, regret, and the passage of time. Through the use of vivid imagery and powerful language, Anne Sexton creates a hauntingly beautiful portrait of a woman reflecting on her life and the things she has lost. Despite the sadness and regret that permeate the poem, however, there is also a sense of hope and comfort in the memories that the speaker holds dear. Ultimately, the poem is a reminder that even in the face of death, our memories can live on, and that they can provide us with a sense of comfort and solace in the midst of life’s trials and tribulations.

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