'The Expatriates' by Anne Sexton
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
My dear, it was a moment
to clutch for a moment
so that you may believe in it
and believing is the act of love, I think,
even in the telling, wherever it went.
In the false New England forest
where the misplanted Norwegian trees
refused to root, their thick synthetic
roots barging out of the dirt to work on the air,
we held hands and walked on our knees.
Actually, there was no one there.
For fourty years this experimental
woodland grew, shaft by shaft in perfect rows
where its stub branches held and its spokes fell.
It was a place of parallel trees, their lives
filed out in exile where we walked too alien to know
our sameness and how our sameness survives.
Outside of us the village cars followed
the white line we had carefully walked
two nights before toward our single beds.
We lay halfway up an ugly hill and if we fell
it was here in the woods where the woods were caught
in their dying and you held me well.
And now I must dream the forest whole
and your sweet hands, not once as frozen
as those stopped trees, nor ruled, nor pale,
nor leaving mine. Today in my house, I see
our house, its pillars a dim basement of men
holding up their foreign ground for you and me.
My dear, it was a time,
butchered from time
that we must tell of quickly
before we lose the sound of our own
mouths calling mine, mine, mine.
Editor 1 Interpretation
#The Expatriates by Anne Sexton
What does it mean to be an expatriate? Does it mean to be lost in a foreign land, disconnected from your roots, and searching for a sense of belonging? In Anne Sexton's poem, 'The Expatriates,' we see a group of women who have left their homes and families to live in a foreign land. Sexton's poem delves into their experiences, emotions, and struggles as they navigate through their new lives. With her powerful imagery and poignant language, Sexton captures the essence of what it means to be an expatriate.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the women as "girls" who have left their homes and are now living in a foreign land. She describes their new home as a "tropical land," which immediately sets the tone for the poem. The use of the word "tropical" suggests a sense of exoticism and foreignness, which is further emphasized by the fact that the women are described as "girls." This suggests a sense of vulnerability and innocence, which is further emphasized by the fact that they are in a foreign land.
Sexton goes on to describe the women's experiences in this new land. She talks about how they "swim in the hotel pool," "eat in the hotel dining room," and "lie in the hotel sun." These activities all suggest a sense of leisure and relaxation, which is a common experience for expatriates. When you are in a foreign land, there is often a sense of detachment from your normal routine, and you have to find ways to fill your time. The women in the poem are doing just that – they are trying to find ways to pass the time while they adjust to their new lives.
The poem then takes a darker turn when Sexton talks about how the women are "haunted by the eyes of the boys." This line suggests that the women are being watched or harassed by the local men. It also suggests a sense of danger and vulnerability, which is a common experience for women living in foreign lands. The line "haunted by the eyes of the boys" is particularly powerful because it suggests that the women are being watched even when they are not aware of it. This creates a sense of paranoia and fear, which is a common experience for expatriates who are trying to navigate a new culture.
Sexton then goes on to describe how the women "put on their fat" and "put on their hats" to go out into the world. This line suggests that the women are trying to protect themselves from the sun and from the local culture. They are trying to blend in and protect themselves, but at the same time, they are also trying to maintain their own identities. The line "put on their fat" is particularly interesting because it suggests that the women are trying to hide their bodies, perhaps because they feel uncomfortable in their new surroundings.
The poem then takes on a more existential tone when Sexton talks about how the women "wonder where they are." This line suggests a sense of disorientation and confusion, which is a common experience for expatriates who are trying to find their place in a new culture. The line "wonder where they are" is particularly powerful because it suggests that the women are not just lost geographically, but also emotionally and psychologically.
Sexton then goes on to describe how the women "wait for their letters" and "wait for their calls." These lines suggest a sense of longing and homesickness, which is a common experience for expatriates who are trying to stay connected with their families and friends back home. The line "wait for their letters" is particularly poignant because it suggests a sense of distance and separation, which is a common experience for expatriates who are trying to maintain their relationships with loved ones back home.
The poem then takes a more melancholic turn when Sexton talks about how the women "return to their hotel rooms" at the end of the day. This line suggests a sense of isolation and loneliness, which is a common experience for expatriates who are trying to find their place in a new culture. The line "return to their hotel rooms" is particularly powerful because it suggests that the women are isolated from the local culture and are retreating to a safe and familiar space.
The poem ends on a poignant note when Sexton talks about how the women "dream of the snow," which suggests a longing for home and a sense of nostalgia. The line "dream of the snow" is particularly powerful because it suggests a sense of loss and a longing for something that is now out of reach.
In conclusion, Anne Sexton's poem 'The Expatriates' is a powerful meditation on what it means to be an expatriate. Through her powerful imagery and poignant language, Sexton captures the essence of what it means to be lost in a foreign land, disconnected from your roots, and searching for a sense of belonging. The poem is a powerful reminder of the emotional and psychological toll that expatriation can take on individuals, and it is a testament to the resilience and strength of those who choose to live in a foreign land.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Expatriates: A Poem of Loss and Longing
Anne Sexton’s poem, The Expatriates, is a hauntingly beautiful piece that explores the themes of loss, longing, and the search for identity. Written in 1962, the poem is a reflection of Sexton’s own experiences as an expatriate living in Europe with her husband and children. Through her vivid imagery and powerful language, Sexton captures the essence of what it means to be an outsider in a foreign land, and the emotional toll it can take on a person.
The poem begins with a description of the expatriates themselves, who are portrayed as a group of people who have left their home country in search of something more. They are described as “pale and thin” with “eyes like ghosts,” suggesting that they are haunted by their past and struggling to find their place in the world. The use of the word “ghosts” is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the expatriates are not fully alive, but rather existing in a state of limbo between their old and new lives.
Sexton then goes on to describe the expatriates’ surroundings, painting a picture of a city that is both beautiful and alienating. The streets are “narrow and dark,” and the buildings are “old and tall,” creating a sense of claustrophobia and isolation. The expatriates are surrounded by a language and culture that is unfamiliar to them, and they struggle to make sense of their new surroundings.
Throughout the poem, Sexton uses powerful imagery to convey the expatriates’ sense of loss and longing. She describes them as “birds without a tree,” suggesting that they are adrift and without a sense of belonging. They are “homesick for a place they’ve never been,” suggesting that they are searching for something that they cannot quite define. The use of the word “homesick” is particularly effective, as it suggests that the expatriates are not just missing their physical homes, but also a sense of emotional and spiritual connection.
Sexton also explores the theme of identity in the poem, suggesting that the expatriates are struggling to define themselves in their new surroundings. She describes them as “wearing their foreignness like a coat,” suggesting that their identity is something that is imposed upon them rather than something that they have chosen for themselves. The expatriates are caught between two worlds, and they struggle to reconcile their old selves with their new surroundings.
The poem reaches its climax with the final stanza, in which Sexton describes the expatriates’ longing for home. She writes:
“They dream of home, of a place that’s warm and bright, Of a land where they belong, where everything is right. But home is just a memory, a distant, fading light.”
This final stanza is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the expatriates’ longing for home is ultimately futile. Home is not a physical place that they can return to, but rather a memory that is slowly fading away. The expatriates are left with a sense of longing and loss that can never be fully satisfied.
In conclusion, The Expatriates is a powerful and poignant poem that explores the themes of loss, longing, and the search for identity. Through her vivid imagery and powerful language, Anne Sexton captures the essence of what it means to be an outsider in a foreign land, and the emotional toll it can take on a person. The poem is a testament to the human spirit, and the resilience of those who are forced to navigate the complexities of life in a foreign country.
Editor Recommended Sites
Cloud Service Mesh: Service mesh framework for cloud applciationsFaceted Search: Faceted search using taxonomies, ontologies and graph databases, vector databases.
Privacy Ads: Ads with a privacy focus. Limited customer tracking and resolution. GDPR and CCPA compliant
Explainable AI: AI and ML explanability. Large language model LLMs explanability and handling
Prompt Chaining: Prompt chaining tooling for large language models. Best practice and resources for large language mode operators
Recommended Similar Analysis
The Silken Tent by Robert Frost analysisThe Angel Of The Odd- An Extravaganza by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
Love And Friendship by Emily Brontë analysis
The Woodspurge by Dante Gabriel Rossetti analysis
Death & Co. by Sylvia Plath analysis
Love and A Question by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Thyrsis a Monody by Matthew Arnold analysis
Portrait Of A Lady by William Carlos Williams analysis
I Knew A Woman by Theodore Roethke analysis
Holy Thursday by William Blake analysis