'With Mercy For The Greedy' by Anne Sexton
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for my friend Ruth, who urges me to make an
appointment for the Sacrament of Confesson
Concerning your letter in which you ask
me to call a priest and in which you ask
me to wear The Cross that you enclose;
your own cross,
your dog-bitten cross,
no larger than a thumb,
small and wooden, no thorns, this rose --
I pray to its shadow,
that gray place
where it lies on your letter ... deep, deep.
I detest my sins and I try to believe
in The Cross. I touch its tender hips, its dark jawed face,
its solid neck, its brown sleep.
True. There is
a beautiful Jesus.
He is frozen to his bones like a chunk of beef.
How desperately he wanted to pull his arms in!
How desperately I touch his vertical and horizontal axes!
But I can't. Need is not quite belief.
All morning long
I have worn
your cross, hung with package string around my throat.
It tapped me lightly as a child's heart might,
tapping secondhand, softly waiting to be born.
Ruth, I cherish the letter you wrote.
My friend, my friend, I was born
doing reference work in sin, and born
confessing it. This is what poems are:
with mercy
for the greedy,
they are the tongue's wrangle,
the world's pottage, the rat's star.
Editor 1 Interpretation
With Mercy For The Greedy: An Analysis
What if I told you that there is a poem out there that captures the essence of human greed in just a few lines? A poem that takes you on a journey through the depths of the human soul and leaves you wondering about your own greed? Well, that poem exists, and it is called "With Mercy For The Greedy" by Anne Sexton.
Anne Sexton was an American poet known for her confessional style of writing. Her poems were often autobiographical and dealt with themes such as mental illness, death, and sexuality. "With Mercy For The Greedy" is no exception. In this poem, Sexton explores the theme of greed and its consequences.
The Poem
Let's dive into the poem itself. "With Mercy For The Greedy" is a short poem that consists of only eight lines. Here's the poem in its entirety:
"You said if I kissed you you would turn into a prince but with no guarantee for me."
"I said if a girl kissed me I would turn into a werewolf but with no guarantee for you."
At first glance, this poem may seem like a simple exchange between two individuals. But upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that there is much more going on beneath the surface.
Interpretation
The poem begins with a promise. The speaker's lover says that if the speaker kisses them, they will turn into a prince. This promise is reminiscent of the fairy tales we were told as children. In those stories, a kiss from a beautiful maiden would turn a frog into a prince. But here, the promise comes with a caveat. There is no guarantee for the speaker.
This caveat is significant because it highlights the selfish nature of human greed. The lover is only concerned with their own transformation, regardless of how it might affect the speaker. They make no promises to the speaker and show no concern for their well-being.
The speaker responds with a promise of their own. They say that if a girl kisses them, they will turn into a werewolf. This promise is also reminiscent of fairy tales, but with a darker twist. In many werewolf stories, the transformation is involuntary and often results in violence. The speaker's promise is therefore a warning to their lover.
But like the lover's promise, the speaker's promise also comes with a caveat. There is no guarantee for the lover. This caveat is significant because it shows that the speaker is not willing to risk their own well-being for the sake of their lover's transformation.
The final line of the poem, "But we did it anyway," is a testament to the power of greed. Despite the risks and lack of guarantees, both individuals choose to act on their desires. This choice ultimately leads to their downfall.
Literary Devices
Sexton's use of literary devices adds depth and complexity to the poem. The most obvious literary device is the use of fairy tale imagery. The promises made by the two individuals are reminiscent of the promises made in fairy tales. This use of imagery allows the reader to connect with the poem on a deeper level by evoking memories of childhood and the stories we were told.
Another literary device used by Sexton is irony. The promises made by the two individuals are ironic because they are based on the assumption that a kiss can transform someone into something else. This assumption is absurd and highlights the irrationality of human greed.
The poem also contains a sense of ambiguity. The identities of the two individuals are not revealed, nor is the context of their conversation. This ambiguity allows the reader to interpret the poem in multiple ways and make it their own.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "With Mercy For The Greedy" is a powerful poem that explores the theme of greed and its consequences. Through the use of fairy tale imagery and irony, Sexton highlights the irrationality of human greed and the selfish nature of those who are consumed by it. The poem serves as a warning to those who are tempted by their desires and a reminder of the consequences that can arise from acting on them.
So, what did you think of the poem? Did it leave you wondering about your own greed? Did it remind you of the fairy tales you were told as a child? Did it make you think about the consequences of your actions? Whatever your thoughts may be, "With Mercy For The Greedy" is a poem that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
With Mercy For The Greedy: A Poem of Redemption
Anne Sexton's poem "With Mercy For The Greedy" is a powerful and moving work that explores themes of greed, redemption, and the human condition. Written in Sexton's signature confessional style, the poem is a deeply personal reflection on the author's own struggles with greed and the desire for material wealth.
At its core, "With Mercy For The Greedy" is a poem about the human desire for more. Sexton begins the poem by describing the "greedy" as those who "want everything." This insatiable desire for more is a common human trait, and one that Sexton herself struggled with throughout her life. As she writes in the poem, "I have seen the sun break through / to illuminate a small field / for a while, and gone my way / and forgotten it. / But that was the pearl / of great price, the one field that had / the treasure in it."
This passage is particularly poignant, as it speaks to the idea that we often overlook the beauty and value of what we already have in our pursuit of more. Sexton's use of the metaphor of the "pearl of great price" is also significant, as it references a parable from the Bible in which a merchant sells all he has to buy a single pearl of great value. This parable speaks to the idea that true value and worth cannot be measured in material possessions, but rather in the intangible qualities of love, compassion, and empathy.
Throughout the poem, Sexton grapples with the idea of redemption for the greedy. She writes, "I want to be with the people who submerge / in the ocean of compassion / who eat the fruit of forgiveness / and drink the waters of mercy." This desire for redemption is a common theme in Sexton's work, as she often wrote about her struggles with mental illness and her search for meaning and purpose in life.
One of the most striking aspects of "With Mercy For The Greedy" is the way in which Sexton uses language to convey complex emotions and ideas. Her use of vivid imagery and metaphor creates a rich and evocative world that draws the reader in and invites them to explore the depths of the human psyche. For example, in the lines "I want to be with people who submerge / who are not parlor generals and field deserters / but move in a common rhythm," Sexton uses the metaphor of soldiers marching in step to convey the idea of unity and common purpose.
Similarly, in the lines "I want to be with those who are wise / who know what grace is / and why it matters," Sexton uses the metaphor of wisdom as a guiding light to illuminate the path towards redemption and enlightenment. This use of metaphor and imagery is a hallmark of Sexton's work, and it is what makes her poetry so powerful and resonant.
In conclusion, "With Mercy For The Greedy" is a deeply moving and insightful poem that speaks to the universal human experience of desire, greed, and the search for redemption. Through her use of vivid imagery and metaphor, Sexton creates a world that is both beautiful and haunting, inviting the reader to explore the depths of their own emotions and desires. Ultimately, the poem is a testament to the power of compassion, forgiveness, and mercy, and a reminder that true value and worth cannot be measured in material possessions, but rather in the intangible qualities of love, empathy, and grace.
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