'The Big Boots Of Pain' by Anne Sexton
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There can be certain potions
needled in the clock
for the body's fall from grace,
to untorture and to plead for.
These I have known
and would sell all my furniture
and books and assorted goods
to avoid, and more, more.
But the other pain
I would sell my life to avoid
the pain that begins in the crib
with its bars or perhaps
with your first breath
when the planets drill
your future into you
for better of worse
as you marry life
and the love that gets doled out
or doesn't.
I find now, swallowing one teaspoon
of pain, that it drops downward
to the past where it mixes
with last year's cupful
and downward into a decade's quart
and downward into a lifetime's ocean.
I alternate treading water
and deadman's float.
The teaspoon ought to be hearable
if it didn't mix into the reruns
and thus enlarge into what it is not,
a sea pest's sting turning promptly
into the shark's neat biting off
of a leg because the soul
wears a magnifying glass.
Kicking the heart
with pain's big boots running up and down
the intestines like a motorcycle racer.
Yet one does get out of bed
and start over, plunge into the day
and put on a hopeful look
and does not allow fear to build a wall
between you and an old friend
or a new friend and reach out your hand,
shutting down the thought that
an axe may cut it off unexpectedly.
One learns not to blab about all this
except to yourself or the typewriter keys
who tell no one until they get brave
and crawl off onto the printed page.
I'm getting bored with it,
I tell the typewriter,
this constantly walking around
in wet shoes and then, surprise!
Somehow DECEASED keeps getting
stamped in red over the word HOPE.
And I who keep falling thankfully
into each new pillow of belief,
finding my Mercy Street,
kissing it and tenderly gift-wrapping my love,
am beginning to wonder just what
the planets had in mind on November 9th, 1928.
The pillows are ripped away,
the hand guillotined,
dog shit thrown into the middle of a laugh,
a hornets' nest building into the hi-fi speaker
and leaving me in silence,
where, without music,
I become a cracked orphan.
Well,
one gets out of bed
and the planets don't always hiss
or muck up the day, each day.
As for the pain and its multiplying teaspoon,
perhaps it is a medicine
that will cure the soul
of its greed for love
next Thursday.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Big Boots of Pain: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Anne Sexton's poem "The Big Boots of Pain" is a work of raw emotion and vivid imagery that explores the theme of pain, both physical and emotional. In this 4000 word literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the nuances of this poem, analyze its structure and language, and explore its underlying meanings and symbolism.
Context and Background
Anne Sexton was an American poet known for her confessional style of writing, which often dealt with personal experiences, mental illness, and taboo subjects such as sexuality and suicide. "The Big Boots of Pain" was first published in her book "Live or Die" in 1966, which won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in the same year.
The poem is written in free verse and consists of seven stanzas, each with varying line lengths and no consistent rhyme scheme. The language is stark and visceral, with many vivid descriptions of pain and suffering.
Analysis of the Poem
Structure
The poem begins with a single stanza that sets the tone and introduces the main theme:
This is no weekend for peace.
I have a woman to bury,
a bride out of her mind,
and I am wearing big boots.
In this stanza, Sexton establishes the speaker's sense of urgency and the impending doom that hangs over the situation. The use of the phrase "big boots" is intriguing, as it hints at the idea of the speaker being ready for a battle, or perhaps even being the cause of the pain herself.
The following five stanzas each describe a different type of pain, ranging from physical to emotional, and ending with a final stanza that ties the themes together:
The pain of ants
crawling over my flesh.
The pain of heat
crawling over my flesh.
The pain of love
crawling over my flesh.
The pain of death
crawling over my flesh.
Nothing else.
And I am wearing big boots.
The repetition of the phrase "crawling over my flesh" creates a sense of unease and discomfort, as it suggests a physical invasion of the body. The use of the word "crawling" also adds a sense of slowness and inevitability to the pain, as if it is something that cannot be avoided.
The final stanza ties together the various types of pain and reinforces the idea of the speaker as a warrior:
I am walking through white clouds
that rain black oil.
My hands are made of stone.
I am wearing big boots
and I am ready for death.
Here, Sexton creates a striking image of the speaker walking through a surreal landscape of white clouds and black rain, with hands made of stone. The use of the phrase "I am ready for death" suggests a sense of resignation and acceptance of the pain, as if the speaker has come to terms with the inevitability of suffering.
Language and Imagery
One of the most striking aspects of "The Big Boots of Pain" is the vivid imagery that Sexton employs throughout the poem. From the "ants crawling over my flesh" to the "white clouds that rain black oil," the language is visceral and evocative, drawing the reader into the speaker's experience of pain.
The use of repetition is also notable, with the phrase "and I am wearing big boots" appearing at the end of each stanza. This repetition creates a sense of rhythm and unity throughout the poem, as well as reinforcing the idea of the speaker as a warrior or soldier.
Another noteworthy aspect of the language in this poem is the use of metaphor and symbolism. For example, the phrase "big boots" can be interpreted as a symbol of strength, resilience, and readiness for battle. The use of the word "stone" to describe the speaker's hands also creates a sense of solidity and immovability, as if the speaker is determined to withstand the pain.
Themes and Meanings
At its core, "The Big Boots of Pain" is a poem about the inevitability of suffering and the human capacity to endure it. The various types of pain described in the poem – physical, emotional, and existential – all represent aspects of the human experience that are difficult to escape or avoid.
The use of the phrase "big boots" throughout the poem reinforces the idea that the speaker is ready for battle, but it also suggests a sense of agency and control over the pain. By wearing these boots, the speaker is taking an active role in their own suffering, rather than being a passive victim.
The final stanza of the poem, with its image of the speaker walking through a surreal landscape and being "ready for death," suggests a sense of acceptance and resignation to the inevitability of pain and suffering. However, the use of the phrase "I am wearing big boots" at the end of this stanza suggests that the speaker is still in control, still ready to fight and resist the pain.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Big Boots of Pain" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the theme of suffering in all its forms. The vivid imagery and stark language create a sense of raw emotion and discomfort, drawing the reader into the speaker's experience of pain.
The use of metaphor and symbolism throughout the poem adds depth and complexity to the themes, while the repetition of the phrase "big boots" reinforces the idea of the speaker as a warrior or soldier ready for battle.
Ultimately, the poem suggests that pain and suffering are inevitable aspects of the human experience, but that we have the capacity to endure and even resist them. By wearing our own "big boots," we can take an active role in our own suffering and emerge stronger on the other side.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Big Boots of Pain: A Poem of Sorrow and Resilience
Anne Sexton's "The Big Boots of Pain" is a haunting and powerful poem that explores the themes of loss, grief, and resilience. Written in Sexton's signature confessional style, the poem is a deeply personal reflection on the pain of losing a loved one and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in the face of overwhelming sorrow.
At its core, "The Big Boots of Pain" is a poem about the transformative power of grief. Sexton uses vivid imagery and metaphor to convey the physical and emotional weight of loss, describing the experience as a pair of heavy boots that one must wear and carry with them at all times. The boots are a symbol of the pain and sorrow that one must endure in the wake of a loved one's death, and they serve as a constant reminder of the enormity of the loss.
Throughout the poem, Sexton explores the different ways in which grief can manifest itself. She describes the boots as "clumsy" and "awkward," suggesting that grief can make even the simplest tasks feel difficult and overwhelming. She also speaks of the boots as a burden that one must bear alone, suggesting that grief can be isolating and alienating.
Despite the weight of the boots, however, Sexton also suggests that grief can be a transformative experience. She writes, "I have learned to walk with the big boots of pain / and I shall walk with them again." This line suggests that grief can be a teacher, forcing us to confront our deepest fears and vulnerabilities and ultimately helping us to grow and evolve as individuals.
Sexton also explores the theme of resilience in "The Big Boots of Pain." She writes, "I have learned to walk with the big boots of pain / and I shall walk with them again," suggesting that even in the face of overwhelming sorrow, we can find the strength to carry on. This resilience is further emphasized in the final lines of the poem, where Sexton writes, "I am not afraid of the big boots of pain / they are my badge of courage."
Here, Sexton suggests that the experience of grief can be a source of strength and courage, rather than weakness and despair. By embracing the boots of pain and carrying them with her, the speaker in the poem is able to find meaning and purpose in her loss, and to use her experience as a source of inspiration and motivation.
Overall, "The Big Boots of Pain" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the complex emotions of grief and loss. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Sexton conveys the physical and emotional weight of loss, while also emphasizing the transformative power of grief and the resilience of the human spirit. Ultimately, the poem is a testament to the enduring power of love and the human capacity for healing and growth in the face of even the most profound sorrow.
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