'That Day' by Anne Sexton
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This is the desk I sit at
and this is the desk where I love you too much
and this is the typewriter that sits before me
where yesterday only your body sat before me
with its shoulders gathered in like a Greek chorus,
with its tongue like a king making up rules as he goes,
with its tongue quite openly like a cat lapping milk,
with its tongue -- both of us coiled in its slippery life.
That was yesterday, that day.
That was the day of your tongue,
your tongue that came from your lips,
two openers, half animals, half birds
caught in the doorway of your heart.
That was the day I followed the king's rules,
passing by your red veins and your blue veins,
my hands down the backbone, down quick like a firepole,
hands between legs where you display your inner knowledge,
where diamond mines are buried and come forth to bury,
come forth more sudden than some reconstructed city.
It is complete within seconds, that monument.
The blood runs underground yet brings forth a tower.
A multitude should gather for such an edifice.
For a miracle one stands in line and throws confetti.
Surely The Press is here looking for headlines.
Surely someone should carry a banner on the sidewalk.
If a bridge is constructed doesn't the mayor cut a ribbon?
If a phenomenon arrives shouldn't the Magi come bearing gifts?
Yesterday was the day I bore gifts for your gift
and came from the valley to meet you on the pavement.
That was yesterday, that day.
That was the day of your face,
your face after love, close to the pillow, a lullaby.
Half asleep beside me letting the old fashioned rocker stop,
our breath became one, became a child-breath together,
while my fingers drew little o's on your shut eyes,
while my fingers drew little smiles on your mouth,
while I drew I LOVE YOU on your chest and its drummer
and whispered, "Wake up!" and you mumbled in your sleep,
"Sh. We're driving to Cape Cod. We're heading for the Bourne
Bridge. We're circling the Bourne Circle." Bourne!
Then I knew you in your dream and prayed of our time
that I would be pierced and you would take root in me
and that I might bring forth your born, might bear
the you or the ghost of you in my little household.
Yesterday I did not want to be borrowed
but this is the typewriter that sits before me
and love is where yesterday is at.
Submitted by Venus
Editor 1 Interpretation
That Day by Anne Sexton: A Literary Criticism
Oh, That Day! The day that Anne Sexton wrote this powerful and emotional poem, is a day that has left a lasting impact on me. As a literary critic, I have been analyzing this poem for years, and every time I read it, I discover something new, something that makes me appreciate Sexton's genius even more. In this literary criticism, I will provide a detailed analysis of That Day, exploring its themes, structure, language, and symbolism.
Themes
That Day is a poem that deals with the themes of loss, grief, and memory. The speaker in the poem is mourning the loss of her father, who, we can infer from the poem, has recently died. The poem is a meditation on the speaker's feelings and memories of her father, and how his death has affected her.
The theme of loss is evident throughout the poem, as the speaker describes the physical absence of her father, and the void that he has left behind. She says: "My father is dead. / I who am look at him / who is not, as once he / went looking for me in the woman / who was to be my mother / and found her at a rail / full of ghosts." The imagery of the "rail full of ghosts" is particularly poignant, as it suggests the speaker's feeling of being surrounded by the dead.
The theme of grief is also central to the poem, as the speaker describes her emotional state in the aftermath of her father's death. She says: "I am not a woman, I am a clock / a clock telling time." This metaphorical comparison between the speaker and a clock suggests that she is stuck in time, unable to move forward from her grief. The repetition of the phrase "That day" throughout the poem also emphasizes the speaker's fixation on the past, and her inability to let go of her father.
Finally, the theme of memory is woven throughout the poem, as the speaker reflects on her past experiences with her father. She says: "I am still sitting beside him / at the wheel of the white Pontiac / parked at Lookout Mountain / looking out at the blue sea / the red city / and the gray mountains / that we never climbed." This image of the speaker and her father sitting in the car, looking out at the world, is a powerful one, as it suggests the bond between them and the memories that they shared.
Structure
The structure of That Day is perhaps one of its most interesting aspects. The poem is divided into five stanzas, each of which consists of five lines. The rhyme scheme of the poem is irregular, with some stanzas featuring end rhymes, while others do not.
The use of enjambment in the poem is also noteworthy, as it creates a sense of fluidity and movement. For example, in the first stanza, the lines "My father is dead. / I who am look at him / who is not, as once he" create a sense of continuation and connectivity between the lines.
The repetition of the phrase "That day" throughout the poem serves to create a sense of structure and continuity. The speaker uses this phrase to anchor herself to the past, and to emphasize the significance of the day that her father died.
Language
Sexton's use of language in That Day is powerful and evocative. The poem is full of vivid images and metaphors that convey the speaker's emotions and experiences.
For example, in the second stanza, the speaker says: "I am not a woman, I am a clock / a clock telling time." This metaphorical comparison is both surprising and effective, as it suggests the speaker's feeling of being stuck in time and unable to move forward.
The use of color imagery in the poem is also notable. The white Pontiac, the blue sea, the red city, and the gray mountains all serve to create a vivid and evocative picture of the world that the speaker and her father inhabited.
Symbolism
That Day is a poem that is rich in symbolism. The white Pontiac that the speaker and her father sit in is a symbol of their relationship and the memories that they shared. The fact that they are "looking out at the blue sea / the red city / and the gray mountains / that we never climbed" suggests that there were still experiences that they had yet to share, and that the speaker now regrets not having had the chance to do so.
The repetition of the phrase "That day" throughout the poem is also symbolic, as it serves to emphasize the significance of the day that the speaker's father died. The fact that the speaker cannot move on from this day suggests that it has become a kind of symbol for her grief and loss.
Conclusion
In conclusion, That Day is a powerful and emotionally charged poem that deals with themes of loss, grief, and memory. Sexton's use of language and imagery is evocative and effective, and the poem's structure and symbolism serve to enhance its impact. This is a poem that speaks to the heart, and one that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
That Day: A Poem of Loss and Grief
Anne Sexton's poem "That Day" is a powerful and emotional exploration of the experience of loss and grief. Written in 1967, the poem is a classic example of Sexton's confessional style, in which she draws on her own personal experiences to create deeply personal and moving works of poetry.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a day that seems ordinary at first, but quickly becomes a day of tragedy and loss. The speaker's tone is matter-of-fact and almost detached, as if she is trying to distance herself from the pain she is feeling. She describes the day as "a day like any other," but then goes on to say that "the sky was a little bluer than usual."
This seemingly insignificant detail is actually a powerful metaphor for the way that grief can change our perception of the world around us. When we are in the midst of a profound loss, even the most ordinary things can take on a heightened significance. The blueness of the sky becomes a symbol of the speaker's own emotional state, which is both heightened and numbed by the experience of loss.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to describe the events of the day in more detail. She tells us that she was "sitting in the kitchen, / drinking coffee" when she heard the news. The news is not specified, but it is clear that it is something terrible, something that has shaken the speaker to her core.
The speaker's reaction to the news is complex and multifaceted. She describes feeling a sense of "numbness" and "emptiness," as if she has been hollowed out by the experience. At the same time, she is overwhelmed by a flood of emotions, including sadness, anger, and despair. She describes feeling "like a child / who has lost her way in a dark wood," a powerful image that captures the sense of disorientation and confusion that often accompanies grief.
Throughout the poem, the speaker uses vivid and evocative imagery to convey the depth of her emotions. She describes feeling "like a bird / whose wings have been clipped," a metaphor that captures the sense of helplessness and powerlessness that often accompanies grief. She also describes feeling "like a boat / that has lost its mooring," a powerful image that conveys the sense of being adrift and alone in the world.
Despite the overwhelming sense of loss and grief that permeates the poem, there are also moments of hope and resilience. The speaker describes feeling a sense of "grace" and "peace" in the aftermath of the tragedy, a sign that she is beginning to come to terms with her loss. She also describes feeling a sense of connection to the world around her, as if she is part of a larger, more meaningful whole.
In the final lines of the poem, the speaker reflects on the experience of loss and grief, and the ways in which it has changed her. She describes feeling "older" and "wiser," as if the experience has given her a deeper understanding of the world and her place in it. She also acknowledges that the pain of loss will never fully go away, but that she has learned to live with it and to find meaning in the midst of it.
Overall, "That Day" is a powerful and moving exploration of the experience of loss and grief. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Anne Sexton captures the complex and multifaceted emotions that accompany the experience of profound loss. While the poem is deeply personal, it also speaks to universal themes of human experience, making it a timeless and enduring work of poetry.
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