'The Children' by Anne Sexton
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The children are all crying in their pens
and the surf carries their cries away.
They are old men who have seen too much,
their mouths are full of dirty clothes,
the tongues poverty, tears like puss.
The surf pushes their cries back.
Listen.
They are bewitched.
They are writing down their life
on the wings of an elf
who then dissolves.
They are writing down their life
on a century fallen to ruin.
They are writing down their life
on the bomb of an alien God.
I am too.
We must get help.
The children are dying in their pens.
Their bodies are crumbling.
Their tongues are twisting backwards.
There is a certain ritual to it.
There is a dance they do in their pens.
Their mouths are immense.
They are swallowing monster hearts.
So is my mouth.
Listen.
We must all stop dying in the little ways,
in the craters of hate,
in the potholes of indifference--
a murder in the temple.
The place I live in
is a maze
and I keep seeking
the exit or the home.
Yet if I could listen
to the bulldog courage of those children
and turn inward into the plague of my soul
with more eyes than the stars
I could melt the darkness--
as suddenly as that time
when an awful headache goes away
or someone puts out the fire--
and stop the darkness and its amputations
and find the real McCoy
in the private holiness
of my hands.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Children: A Deep Dive into Anne Sexton's Classic Poem
When it comes to poetry, few writers have left as big of a mark as Anne Sexton. Known for her deeply personal and confessional style, Sexton's work often explores themes of mental illness, motherhood, and sexuality. One of her most famous poems is "The Children," which was first published in her 1966 collection "Live or Die." In this essay, we will take a deep dive into "The Children" and explore its themes, literary devices, and overall impact.
Overview of the Poem
At its core, "The Children" is a poem about a mother's love for her children. However, Sexton explores this theme in a way that is both tender and unsettling. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which focuses on a different aspect of motherhood. The first stanza describes the physical bond between mother and child, while the second stanza delves into the emotional bond. The final stanza takes a darker turn, examining the fear that mothers have for their children's safety.
Analysis of the Poem
Form and Structure
"The Children" is written in free verse, meaning that it does not follow a set rhyme scheme or meter. However, Sexton does make use of repetition and parallelism to give the poem a sense of structure. For example, the phrase "they are like" is repeated throughout the first stanza, creating a pattern that emphasizes the similarities between mother and child. In the second stanza, Sexton uses the phrase "I am the" to describe the various roles that a mother must play. This repetition creates a sense of unity within the poem.
Imagery
Sexton's use of imagery is particularly striking in "The Children." In the first stanza, she paints a vivid picture of the physical bond between mother and child:
Their skin clings to my skin, their mind, my mind, and we are incomplete without each other.
This image of the mother and child as intertwined is both beautiful and unsettling. It suggests that the mother's identity is tied up in her children, and that they are not separate entities.
In the second stanza, Sexton uses a series of metaphors to describe the emotional bond between mother and child. She writes:
I am the tree, the dew on the leaves, I am the bird, the sparrow, stirring the morning.
These metaphors suggest that the mother is both a source of nourishment and protection for her children. However, the use of the word "stirring" also implies a restlessness or anxiety on the part of the mother.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful in terms of imagery. Sexton writes:
I have been afraid of them, they seemed so fragile.
This image of the children as fragile and vulnerable is in stark contrast to the earlier images of the mother and child as intertwined. It suggests that the mother's love for her children is tinged with fear and anxiety.
Themes
One of the main themes of "The Children" is the bond between mother and child. Sexton explores this theme in a way that is both tender and unsettling. On the one hand, she celebrates the physical and emotional connections between mother and child. On the other hand, she acknowledges the fear and anxiety that come with being a parent. This duality is a hallmark of Sexton's work, and it is particularly effective in this poem.
Another theme that emerges in "The Children" is the idea of identity. Sexton suggests that the mother's identity is tied up in her children, and that she cannot be complete without them. This idea is further underscored by the repetition of the phrase "they are like," which suggests that the mother and child are almost interchangeable.
Tone
The tone of "The Children" is both loving and anxious. Sexton celebrates the bond between mother and child, but she also acknowledges the fear that comes with being a parent. This creates a sense of tension within the poem, which is ultimately resolved in the final stanza. The final lines, "I have been afraid of them, / they seemed so fragile," suggest that the mother's love for her children is tempered by a sense of vulnerability and fear.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Children" is a powerful and deeply moving poem that explores the bond between mother and child. Through her use of imagery, repetition, and metaphor, Sexton creates a sense of unity and duality that is both beautiful and unsettling. By acknowledging the fear and anxiety that come with being a parent, she creates a poem that resonates with readers on a deep emotional level. "The Children" is a testament to Sexton's skill as a poet, and it remains one of her most enduring works to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Children: A Poem of Anne Sexton
Anne Sexton's poem, "The Children," is a powerful and haunting work that explores the complexities of motherhood and the emotional toll it can take on a woman. The poem is a deeply personal reflection on the challenges of raising children, and the ways in which motherhood can both enrich and deplete a woman's life.
At its core, "The Children" is a meditation on the paradoxical nature of motherhood. On the one hand, motherhood is a source of immense joy and fulfillment, as the speaker notes in the opening lines of the poem: "When I was a young woman / I played with the children and showed them a path through the woods." The speaker clearly loves children and enjoys spending time with them, and she takes pride in her ability to guide them and teach them about the world.
But as the poem progresses, the speaker's tone becomes increasingly somber and introspective. She begins to reflect on the darker aspects of motherhood, such as the sacrifices that mothers must make in order to care for their children: "I gave them the milk of my breasts / and the honey of my tongue / and I held them close to my heart / and I sang them a song."
These lines are particularly poignant, as they highlight the physical and emotional toll that motherhood can take on a woman. The speaker's use of the phrase "the milk of my breasts" is especially powerful, as it underscores the fact that motherhood is a deeply embodied experience that involves not just the mind and heart, but also the physical body.
As the poem continues, the speaker's reflections on motherhood become increasingly complex and nuanced. She begins to question the very nature of motherhood itself, asking whether it is truly possible to love one's children unconditionally: "But I wonder if I loved them enough. / I wonder if I held them enough."
These lines are particularly striking, as they suggest that even the most devoted and loving mother may still feel a sense of doubt or insecurity about her ability to care for her children. The speaker's use of the word "enough" is especially telling, as it suggests that there is a sense of inadequacy or insufficiency that can never be fully overcome.
Despite these doubts and uncertainties, however, the speaker ultimately affirms her love for her children, and acknowledges the profound impact that they have had on her life: "And now they are grown / and I am left with the memory of their small bodies / curled up against me / and the sound of their laughter / ringing in my ears."
These lines are a testament to the enduring power of motherhood, and the ways in which it can shape a woman's life long after her children have grown up and left home. The speaker's use of the phrase "the memory of their small bodies" is especially poignant, as it underscores the fact that even as children grow and change, they remain forever imprinted on their mother's heart and mind.
In conclusion, Anne Sexton's poem "The Children" is a powerful and deeply moving work that explores the complexities of motherhood with honesty and insight. Through her reflections on the joys and challenges of raising children, the speaker offers a profound meditation on the nature of love, sacrifice, and the enduring power of memory. Whether read as a tribute to motherhood or a cautionary tale about its pitfalls and challenges, "The Children" is a work of poetry that will resonate with readers for years to come.
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