'Raccoon' by Anne Sexton
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Coon, why did you come to this dance
with a mask on? Why not the tin man
and his rainbow girl? Why not Racine,
his hair marcelled down to his chest?
Why not come as a stomach digesting
its worms? Why you little fellow
with your ears at attention and your
nose poking up like a microphone?
You whig emblem, you woman chaser,
who do you dance over the wide lawn tonight
clanging the garbage pail like great silver bells?
Submitted by Emily
Editor 1 Interpretation
Raccoon: A Darkly Erotic Poem on Identity and Transformation
I stumbled upon Anne Sexton's poem "Raccoon" by chance, and I was immediately drawn to its hauntingly beautiful language and vivid imagery. As I delved deeper into the poem, I realized that it was much more than a simple description of a raccoon. Rather, it is a complex meditation on identity and transformation, laced with dark eroticism and symbolism that left me mesmerized.
A Poem of Transformation
The first thing that struck me about "Raccoon" is its powerful metaphorical language. The poem opens with the line "The moon was like a full cup tonight", setting the tone for the entire piece. The moon, a symbol of transformation and metamorphosis, is used throughout the poem to evoke the raccoon's transformation from a wild animal to a creature that is intimately connected to the speaker, her alter ego.
The poem is structured as a series of four quatrains, each exploring different aspects of the raccoon's identity and transformation. The first quatrain describes the raccoon's wildness, its "claws, / those levers that have pulled / open logs like doors," and its "black mask" that symbolizes its cunning and ability to evade capture. The raccoon is a powerful, untamed creature, embodying the speaker's own wildness and untamed desires.
In the second quatrain, the speaker begins to identify with the raccoon, saying "I could have been that raccoon." This line is crucial to understanding the poem as a whole, as it suggests that the speaker sees herself in the raccoon, and that the raccoon is a symbol of her own transformation. She describes the raccoon's transformation as it "climbed / into the garbage can, / its tail a club / twitching at the end of a nervous system." Here, the raccoon's tail becomes an extension of its nervous system, suggesting that it is intimately connected to its own desires and instincts. The speaker is drawn to this primal, instinctual creature, seeing in it a reflection of her own desires.
The third quatrain is perhaps the most erotic and sensual of the poem, as the speaker describes her own transformation into a raccoon. She says "My teeth scrambled for / the fillings of light. / I ran after the muscled / moon. I was desperate." Here, the speaker's human teeth become a symbol of her desire to consume the moon, to become one with it. She is no longer content to simply identify with the raccoon – she wants to become one herself, to fully embrace her wild, animalistic side.
The final quatrain brings the poem full circle, as the speaker returns to the image of the raccoon "lifting its head / toward my hand, its black eyes / like beads of radium." Here, the raccoon is no longer a wild, untamed creature – it is intimately connected to the speaker, and it looks to her for guidance and comfort. The poem ends with the speaker holding the raccoon's head in her hands, a powerful image of intimacy and connection.
Sexuality, Identity, and Transformation
At its core, "Raccoon" is a poem about sexuality, identity, and transformation. The raccoon is a powerful symbol of the speaker's own transformation, from a wild, untamed creature to a creature that is intimately connected to the speaker. The poem is suffused with dark eroticism, with images of teeth scrambling for the fillings of light, and the speaker's desperate desire to become one with the muscled moon.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of symbolism. The raccoon's black mask becomes a symbol of its cunning and evasive abilities, while its tail becomes an extension of its nervous system, intimately connected to its own desires and instincts. The moon, too, becomes a powerful symbol of transformation and metamorphosis, evoking the speaker's own desire to become something other than human.
Perhaps the most powerful aspect of the poem is its exploration of identity. The speaker sees herself in the raccoon, identifying with its wildness and its untamed desires. She is no longer content to simply observe the raccoon – she wants to become one herself, to fully embrace her own primal, animalistic side. The poem is a powerful meditation on the nature of identity, and the ways in which we can transform ourselves and become something other than human.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Raccoon" is a stunningly beautiful and powerful poem, suffused with dark eroticism and rich symbolism. Anne Sexton's use of language is masterful, evoking the raccoon's transformation from a wild, untamed creature to a creature that is intimately connected to the speaker, her alter ego. The poem is a complex meditation on identity and transformation, and it left me mesmerized and deeply moved.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Anne Sexton's poem "Raccoon" is a haunting and evocative piece that explores themes of isolation, identity, and the struggle to find meaning in a world that can often seem cruel and indifferent. With its vivid imagery and powerful language, "Raccoon" is a classic example of Sexton's unique poetic voice and her ability to capture the complexities of the human experience.
At its core, "Raccoon" is a poem about the search for identity and the struggle to find a place in the world. The speaker of the poem is a raccoon, a creature that is often seen as a symbol of cunning and resourcefulness, but also of isolation and loneliness. Throughout the poem, the raccoon is portrayed as a creature that is constantly searching for something, whether it be food, shelter, or a sense of belonging.
One of the most striking aspects of "Raccoon" is its use of vivid and powerful imagery. From the opening lines, Sexton paints a vivid picture of the raccoon's world, describing it as a place of "darkness and hunger" where the "trees are like bars." This image of the raccoon as a prisoner in its own world is a powerful one, and sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
As the poem progresses, the raccoon's search for identity becomes more and more desperate. It is described as "a thief in the night," stealing food and shelter wherever it can find it. This image of the raccoon as a thief is a powerful one, and speaks to the sense of desperation and isolation that the creature must feel.
Despite its struggles, however, the raccoon remains a resilient and resourceful creature. It is described as "a master of survival," able to adapt to its environment and find ways to survive even in the harshest of conditions. This image of the raccoon as a survivor is a powerful one, and speaks to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Ultimately, however, the poem is a tragic one. Despite its best efforts, the raccoon is unable to find a sense of belonging or identity in the world. It is described as "a creature without a name," a symbol of the sense of isolation and alienation that many people feel in the modern world.
In conclusion, "Raccoon" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of identity, isolation, and the struggle to find meaning in a world that can often seem cruel and indifferent. With its vivid imagery and powerful language, it is a classic example of Anne Sexton's unique poetic voice and her ability to capture the complexities of the human experience. Whether read as a commentary on the human condition or as a meditation on the nature of identity and belonging, "Raccoon" is a poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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