'The Moss Of His Skin' by Anne Sexton

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"Young girls in old Arabia were often buried alive next
to their fathers, apparently as sacrifice to the goddesses
of the tribes..."

--Harold Feldman, "Children of the Desert" Psychoanalysis
and Psychoanalytic Review, Fall 1958

It was only important
to smile and hold still,
to lie down beside him
and to rest awhile,
to be folded up together
as if we were silk,
to sink from the eyes of mother
and not to talk.
The black room took us
like a cave or a mouth
or an indoor belly.
I held my breath
and daddy was there,
his thumbs, his fat skull,
his teeth, his hair growing
like a field or a shawl.
I lay by the moss
of his skin until
it grew strange. My sisters
will never know that I fall
out of myself and pretend
that Allah will not see
how I hold my daddy
like an old stone tree.



Submitted by Venus

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Moss Of His Skin by Anne Sexton

Anne Sexton was an American poet, known for her confessional style of writing. Her poems dealt with themes of mental illness, family, and relationships. In her poem, The Moss Of His Skin, Sexton explores the theme of love and the complexities that come with it.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the physical appearance of her lover. She uses vivid imagery to depict him, describing his skin as being "as thick as Irish stew" and "as curdled as cream". The use of similes here creates a sense of tangibility, making the reader feel as if they can almost touch the lover's skin.

The speaker then goes on to describe how the lover's skin is covered in moss. She says that the moss is "old and fierce" and "as tough as boots". Here, the moss can be seen as a metaphor for the lover's past experiences and emotional baggage. The use of the word "fierce" suggests that the lover has been through a lot in his life and has come out stronger because of it.

The poem then takes a darker turn as the speaker describes how the lover's skin is "riddled with worms". The worms can be seen as a metaphor for the lover's inner demons, the things that he struggles with internally. The use of the word "riddled" suggests that the lover is consumed by these demons, unable to escape them. The speaker then goes on to say that despite the worms, she still loves the lover.

This is where the poem becomes interesting as the speaker starts to question why she loves the lover despite the worms in his skin. She asks, "Why do I love him like this?" and "What kind of beast am I?" This self-questioning is a common theme in Sexton's poetry. She often questions her own motives and desires, trying to make sense of her own emotions.

The poem then ends with the speaker describing how she will always love the lover, even if he were to turn into a monster. She says, "I will love him / until he becomes the beast". This can be seen as a metaphor for the idea that love transcends physical appearance and imperfections. The speaker loves the lover not despite his flaws but because of them.

The Moss Of His Skin is a powerful poem that explores the complexities of love. Sexton's use of vivid imagery and metaphors allows the reader to feel as if they are experiencing the lover's skin themselves. The poem also raises questions about the nature of love and why we love the people we do.

Overall, The Moss Of His Skin is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that showcases Sexton's unique style of writing. It's a poem that will stay with the reader long after they've finished reading it.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Moss of His Skin: 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 explore themes of mental illness, death, and sexuality. One of her most famous works is "The Moss of His Skin," a haunting and beautiful poem that delves into the complexities of love and loss.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a man who is covered in moss. She says, "He is covered with moss / like a stone in a stream." This image is both eerie and enchanting, as it conjures up the idea of a man who is both alive and dead, a man who is both a part of nature and separate from it. The moss is a symbol of decay and growth, of life and death, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reveals that the man is her lover, and that he has died. She says, "He is dead and I am / alive and I am in love / with the moss of his skin." This line is both heartbreaking and beautiful, as it shows the speaker's deep love for the man, even in death. The moss of his skin is a symbol of their connection, of the way that he is still a part of her even though he is gone.

The poem then takes a darker turn, as the speaker describes the man's body being consumed by the earth. She says, "The earth is eating him up / like a woman eating chocolate." This line is both sensual and disturbing, as it suggests that the man's body is being consumed in a way that is both pleasurable and painful. The image of the earth as a woman is also significant, as it suggests that the man's body is being taken back into the womb of the earth, where it will be reborn.

The speaker then describes her own body as being consumed by the earth as well. She says, "I am being eaten up too / by the same earth that is eating him." This line is significant because it shows that the speaker is not separate from the man, that she is also a part of the cycle of life and death. The image of the earth consuming both the man and the speaker is also significant, as it suggests that they are both a part of something larger than themselves.

The poem ends with the speaker describing the man's body being transformed into something new. She says, "He is turning into a tree / and I am turning into a bird." This image is both beautiful and hopeful, as it suggests that the man's body is being transformed into something that will continue to grow and thrive. The image of the speaker turning into a bird is also significant, as it suggests that she is being transformed into something that is free and able to fly away.

Overall, "The Moss of His Skin" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the complexities of love and loss. The use of imagery and symbolism is masterful, and the poem is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Anne Sexton's ability to capture the essence of human emotion is unparalleled, and this poem is a testament to her talent as a poet.

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