'The Inventory Of Goodbye' by Anne Sexton
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I have a pack of letters,
I have a pack of memories.
I could cut out the eyes of both.
I could wear them like a patchwork apron.
I could stick them in the washer, the drier,
and maybe some of the pain would float off like dirt?
Perhaps down the disposal I could grind up the loss.
Besides -- what a bargain -- no expensive phone calls.
No lengthy trips on planes in the fog.
No manicky laughter or blessing from an odd-lot priest.
That priest is probably still floating on a fog pillow.
Blessing us. Blessing us.
Am I to bless the lost you,
sitting here with my clumsy soul?
Propaganda time is over.
I sit here on the spike of truth.
No one to hate except the slim fish of memory
that slides in and out of my brain.
No one to hate except the acute feel of my nightgown
brushing my body like a light that has gone out.
It recalls the kiss we invented, tongues like poems,
meeting, returning, inviting, causing a fever of need.
Laughter, maps, cassettes, touch singing its path -
all to be broken and laid away in a tight strongbox.
The monotonous dead clog me up and there is only
black done in black that oozes from the strongbox.
I must disembowel it and then set the heart, the legs,
of two who were one upon a large woodpile
and ignite, as I was once ignited, and let it whirl
into flame, reaching the sky
making it dangerous with its red.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Inventory of Goodbye by Anne Sexton: A Poetic Masterpiece
The Inventory of Goodbye by Anne Sexton is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that delves into the theme of loss and the pain of separation. The poem is a beautiful portrayal of the various ways in which people say goodbye, and the emotions that accompany them. Sexton's use of vivid, striking imagery and rich, emotive language makes this poem a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.
Background Information on Anne Sexton
Before diving into the poem itself, it is useful to understand a bit about the author, Anne Sexton. Sexton was a celebrated American poet, born in Newton, Massachusetts in 1928. She began writing poetry in the late 1950s and quickly gained recognition for her unique style, which was characterized by its confessional tone and frank discussions of taboo topics such as mental illness, sex, and death.
Sexton's writing was deeply personal and autobiographical, often drawing on her own experiences with mental illness and her struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts. Her work was controversial at the time, but it was also powerful and groundbreaking, paving the way for other women writers to explore taboo topics in their own writing.
Unfortunately, Sexton's life was cut tragically short when she took her own life in 1974 at the age of 45. However, her poetry lives on as a testament to her talent and her legacy as one of the most important voices of her generation.
The Poem Itself
Now that we have some context for Sexton's life and work, let's turn our attention to the poem itself. The Inventory of Goodbye is a long poem that consists of 10 stanzas, each of which describes a different way of saying goodbye. The poem is structured as a list, with each stanza beginning with the phrase "Let me tell you how" followed by a description of a different goodbye.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with Sexton describing the act of saying goodbye as "a pikestaff / in the ocean, a thing that waves in the wind, / a white rail, a cracked bell, a buckled bridge." This imagery creates a sense of instability and uncertainty, as if the act of saying goodbye is something that is hard to control or predict.
As the poem progresses, Sexton explores various different ways of saying goodbye, from the casual "see ya later" to the more formal "adieu." Each description is vivid and memorable, with Sexton using rich, evocative language to paint a picture of each goodbye in the reader's mind.
One of the most striking stanzas in the poem is the fifth, in which Sexton describes the act of saying goodbye as "a bullet from a gun when you are the gun / and you watch yourself walking away." This image is particularly powerful because it captures the sense of separation and finality that comes with saying goodbye. It is as if the person saying goodbye is shooting themselves away from the other person, and they are powerless to stop it.
The poem ends with a haunting final stanza in which Sexton describes the ultimate goodbye: death. She writes, "And when I die, / even the undertaker will be sorry." This line is particularly poignant because it suggests that even in death, there is a sense of regret and loss. It is a reminder that saying goodbye is never easy, and that it is something that we all must face at some point in our lives.
Interpretation and Analysis
The Inventory of Goodbye is a complex and multi-layered poem that can be interpreted in a variety of different ways. At its core, however, it is a meditation on the theme of loss and the pain of separation. Sexton explores the many different ways in which people say goodbye, from the casual to the formal, and she shows us how each one can be a source of pain and sadness.
One way to interpret the poem is to see it as a reflection of Sexton's own struggles with mental illness and the sense of isolation and detachment that often accompanies it. Many of the descriptions of saying goodbye in the poem suggest a sense of disconnection or fragmentation, as if the act of saying goodbye is a way of severing ties with the world around us.
Another way to interpret the poem is to see it as a commentary on the human condition more broadly. Saying goodbye is something that we all must face at some point in our lives, and it is never easy. Whether we are saying goodbye to a loved one who is moving away, a friend who is dying, or even just a favorite pair of shoes that have worn out, the act of letting go can be painful and difficult.
Finally, it is worth noting that the poem is also a testament to Sexton's skill as a poet. Her use of imagery and language is masterful, and she is able to capture complex emotions and ideas in a few short lines. The Inventory of Goodbye is a testament to her talent and her legacy as one of the most important poets of the 20th century.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Inventory of Goodbye by Anne Sexton is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today. The poem is a meditation on the theme of loss and the pain of separation, and it explores the many different ways in which people say goodbye. Through vivid imagery and emotive language, Sexton is able to capture the complexity of human emotion and the difficulty of letting go. Her legacy as a poet is secure, and The Inventory of Goodbye is a fitting tribute to her talent and her unique voice.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Inventory of Goodbye: A Poetic Masterpiece by Anne Sexton
Anne Sexton, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is known for her confessional style of writing. Her poems are often autobiographical and deal with themes of mental illness, death, and personal struggles. One of her most famous works, The Inventory of Goodbye, is a poignant and powerful poem that explores the complexities of saying goodbye.
The poem is structured as a list, with each stanza beginning with the phrase "I have" followed by a description of something the speaker has given away or lost. The poem starts with small, insignificant items like a key and a book, but as it progresses, the items become more significant and personal, such as a lover and a child. The poem ends with the speaker giving away her own life.
The poem is a reflection on the process of letting go and the pain that comes with it. The speaker is not just giving away physical objects, but also emotional attachments. The act of saying goodbye is not just a physical act, but also an emotional one. The speaker is letting go of memories, relationships, and parts of herself.
The poem is also a commentary on the inevitability of loss. The speaker acknowledges that everything she has will eventually be lost or given away. This is a universal truth that everyone must face. The poem is a reminder that we must cherish what we have while we have it, because it will not last forever.
The Inventory of Goodbye is a deeply personal poem, but it also has universal themes that resonate with anyone who has experienced loss or the pain of saying goodbye. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of human emotion and experience.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. The speaker describes each item she is giving away in vivid detail, creating a sense of intimacy and emotional depth. For example, when she describes giving away her lover, she says, "I have given away my lover's sighs / like little dolls of plaster / I have given away his touch / that used to flood my skin like light." The use of imagery here is powerful, as it creates a sense of loss and longing that is palpable.
Another notable aspect of the poem is its use of repetition. The phrase "I have" is repeated at the beginning of each stanza, creating a sense of rhythm and structure. This repetition also emphasizes the act of giving away, as each stanza begins with the same phrase, creating a sense of continuity and progression.
The poem also uses symbolism to convey its themes. For example, the key that the speaker gives away in the first stanza can be seen as a symbol of access and control. By giving away the key, the speaker is relinquishing control and access to something important. This can be seen as a metaphor for the act of saying goodbye, as it involves letting go of control and accepting the inevitability of loss.
The Inventory of Goodbye is a powerful and moving poem that explores the complexities of saying goodbye. Through its use of imagery, repetition, and symbolism, the poem captures the emotional depth and pain of letting go. The poem is a testament to Anne Sexton's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the complexities of human emotion and experience.
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