'Bayonet' by Anne Sexton
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What can I do with this bayonet?
Make a rose bush of it?
Poke it into the moon?
Shave my legs with its silver?
Spear a goldfish?
No. No.
It was made
in my dream
for you.
My eyes were closed.
I was curled fetally
and yet I held a bayonet
that was for the earth of your stomach.
The belly button singing its puzzle.
The intestines winding like alpine roads.
It was made to enter you
as you have entered me
and to cut the daylight into you
and let out your buried heartland,
to let out the spoon you have fed me with,
to let out the bird that said fuck you,
to carve him onto a sculpture until he is white
and I could put him on a shelf,
an object unthinking as a stone,
but with all the vibrations
of a crucifix.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Bayonet by Anne Sexton: A Critique and Interpretation
Anne Sexton was one of the most prominent poets of the 20th century, known for her bold and provocative writing style. Her work delves into the darker, more disturbing sides of human nature and the world we live in. Bayonet is no exception. This poem is a powerful and haunting depiction of war and the toll it takes on those who are forced to participate in it. In this critique and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism in Bayonet.
Themes
War is the central theme of this poem. Sexton portrays it as a senseless and brutal act that destroys lives and leaves lasting scars on those who survive it. The poem is told from the perspective of a soldier who has been forced to participate in a war he does not believe in. The speaker's feelings of anger, pain, and confusion are palpable throughout the poem, as he questions the reasons behind the violence he has witnessed and the sacrifices he has made.
Another theme that runs through Bayonet is the dehumanization of the soldiers. Sexton uses vivid imagery to depict the soldiers as mindless machines, stripped of their humanity and forced to blindly follow orders. The soldiers are reduced to mere instruments of war, with their bodies and minds completely controlled by the military machine.
Imagery
Sexton's use of imagery in Bayonet is particularly powerful. The poem is full of vivid and disturbing imagery that paints a picture of the horrors of war. One of the most striking images in the poem is that of the bayonet itself. The bayonet is a symbol of the violence and destruction of war, and Sexton uses it to great effect in the poem. The speaker describes the bayonet as a "steel flower," a beautiful and deadly weapon that is both alluring and terrifying at the same time.
The imagery in Bayonet is also deeply symbolic. The speaker describes the soldiers as "cows" and "apes," animalistic creatures that are reduced to nothing more than their basic instincts. This animal imagery underscores the theme of dehumanization in the poem, and highlights the fact that war turns human beings into beasts.
Symbolism
Sexton uses a number of symbols in Bayonet to convey the deeper meaning of the poem. One of the most powerful symbols is that of the flag. The flag is a symbol of patriotism and national pride, but in the context of the poem it becomes a symbol of the lies and propaganda that are used to justify war. The speaker describes the flag as a "piece of cloth," a hollow symbol that is used to manipulate and control the soldiers.
Another symbol in the poem is that of the battlefield. The battlefield is a symbol of the senseless violence of war, and the toll it takes on those who are forced to fight on it. The image of the battlefield is a reminder of the many lives that have been lost to war, and the countless others who have been scarred by it.
Interpretation
Bayonet is a powerful and haunting poem that speaks to the senseless violence of war, and the toll it takes on those who are forced to participate in it. The poem is a commentary on the dehumanization of soldiers, and the lies and propaganda that are used to justify war.
The bayonet is a symbol of the violence and destruction of war, and the fact that it is described as a "steel flower" highlights the fact that war is both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. The animal imagery used to describe the soldiers underscores the theme of dehumanization, and highlights the fact that war turns human beings into beasts.
The flag is a symbol of the lies and propaganda that are used to justify war, and the fact that it is described as a "piece of cloth" underscores the fact that it is a hollow symbol that is used to manipulate and control the soldiers.
The battlefield is a symbol of the senseless violence of war, and the toll it takes on those who are forced to fight on it. The image of the battlefield is a reminder of the many lives that have been lost to war, and the countless others who have been scarred by it.
In conclusion, Bayonet is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the horrors of war. Sexton's use of imagery and symbolism is particularly effective in conveying the deeper meaning of the poem, and the themes of dehumanization and propaganda are still relevant today. This poem is a testament to Sexton's skill as a poet, and her ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in her writing.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Bayonet: A Poem of War and Loss
Anne Sexton’s poem Bayonet is a powerful and haunting exploration of the horrors of war and the toll it takes on those who fight it. Written in 1967, during the height of the Vietnam War, the poem is a visceral and emotional response to the violence and destruction of that conflict. In this analysis, we will examine the themes, imagery, and language of Bayonet, and explore how Sexton uses these elements to convey her message about the human cost of war.
The poem begins with a stark and brutal image: “The stick insect sitting at his stillness / In the little lamp of his belly”. This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, establishing a sense of stillness and quiet that is soon shattered by the violence that follows. The stick insect, with its fragile and delicate appearance, is a symbol of vulnerability and innocence, and its presence in the poem serves to emphasize the brutality of what is to come.
The next lines introduce the central image of the poem: the bayonet. “I ask you to forgive me / For every time I have not killed”. Here, Sexton is addressing the reader directly, asking for forgiveness for her failure to act in the face of violence and injustice. The bayonet, a weapon designed for close combat and killing, is a potent symbol of the violence and aggression that underlies war. By asking for forgiveness for not using it, Sexton is acknowledging the moral complexity of war and the difficulty of making ethical choices in such a context.
The poem then moves into a series of vivid and disturbing images of war. “The killer’s eye shrunk to a bead / And all the wiry muscle of his arms / Tightened as he coiled in his swing”. Here, Sexton captures the intensity and focus of a soldier in the heat of battle, as well as the physicality of violence. The “wiry muscle” and “tightened” arms suggest a sense of strength and power, but also a sense of strain and effort. The “killer’s eye” is a chilling image, suggesting a cold and calculating mindset that is necessary for survival in war.
The poem then shifts to a more personal and emotional tone, as Sexton describes the impact of war on the individual soldier. “I touch my bayonet to my nose / And think of him who will never be still”. Here, Sexton is using the bayonet as a symbol of the soldier’s identity and sense of self. By touching it to her nose, she is connecting with the physical reality of war and the toll it takes on the body. The image of the soldier who “will never be still” is a poignant one, suggesting a sense of restlessness and trauma that will haunt the soldier long after the war is over.
The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful and haunting. “I am the man who watched the woman / With lowered eyes plug the wine”. Here, Sexton is using the first person to identify with the soldier and his experiences. The image of the woman with “lowered eyes” suggests a sense of shame or guilt, as if she is complicit in the violence and destruction of war. The act of “plugging the wine” is a small and mundane one, but it serves to emphasize the contrast between the normalcy of everyday life and the brutality of war. The final line, “For men to drink who do not know / The blood they drink is mine”, is a powerful and emotional statement of the human cost of war. By identifying herself with the soldier, Sexton is reminding us that the violence and destruction of war is not an abstract concept, but a real and tangible experience that affects real people.
In conclusion, Bayonet is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of war, violence, and loss. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Anne Sexton captures the physical and emotional toll of war on the individual soldier, as well as the broader human cost of conflict. The poem is a reminder of the importance of empathy and understanding in the face of violence and destruction, and a call to action to work towards a more peaceful and just world.
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