'Oh' by Anne Sexton
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
It is snowing and death bugs me
as stubborn as insomnia.
The fierce bubbles of chalk,
the little white lesions
settle on the street outside.
It is snowing and the ninety
year old woman who was combing
out her long white wraith hair
is gone, embalmed even now,
even tonight her arms are smooth
muskets at her side and nothing
issues from her but her last word - "Oh." Surprised by death.
It is snowing. Paper spots
are falling from the punch.
Hello? Mrs. Death is here!
She suffers according to the digits
of my hate. I hear the filaments
of alabaster. I would lie down
with them and lift my madness
off like a wig. I would lie
outside in a room of wool
and let the snow cover me.
Paris white or flake white
or argentine, all in the washbasin
of my mouth, calling, "Oh."
I am empty. I am witless.
Death is here. There is no
other settlement. Snow!
See the mark, the pock, the pock!
Meanwhile you pour tea
with your handsome gentle hands.
Then you deliberately take your
forefinger and point it at my temple,
saying, "You suicide bitch!
I'd like to take a corkscrew
and screw out all your brains
and you'd never be back ever."
And I close my eyes over the steaming
tea and see God opening His teeth.
"Oh." He says.
I see the child in me writing, "Oh."
Oh, my dear, not why.
Submitted by elise
Editor 1 Interpretation
Oh by Anne Sexton: A Critical Analysis
Oh, Anne Sexton’s poem, is a haunting piece that explores the complexities of love and desire. Written in 1962, the poem speaks to the universal human experience of longing and the pain that comes with it. Throughout the poem, Sexton uses vivid and visceral imagery that conjures a range of emotions in the reader. This essay will analyze and interpret the poem, exploring its themes, structure, and meaning.
Background
Before delving into the poem itself, it is important to understand the context in which it was written. Anne Sexton was an American poet who rose to fame in the 1960s. She was known for her confessional style of poetry, which explored themes of mental illness, addiction, and sexuality. Sexton lived a tumultuous life and struggled with mental health issues for much of her adult life. She committed suicide in 1974 at the age of 45.
Oh was published in Sexton's third collection of poetry, Live or Die, which was released in 1966. The collection is a deeply personal and confessional exploration of Sexton's life and experiences. Oh is one of the most well-known poems from the collection and is often anthologized in collections of American poetry.
Themes
At its core, Oh is a poem about desire and longing. Sexton explores the idea that the things we desire most are often the things that hurt us the most. The poem is also a meditation on the nature of love and the pain that comes with it. Throughout the poem, Sexton uses powerful imagery to convey the intensity of these emotions.
One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of possession. Sexton writes, "I am yours, don't give myself back to me." This line expresses the speaker's desire to be possessed by their lover. The idea of possession is explored further in the lines, "Oh I would bury my fingers and/ my face and my eager breasts/ under you." Here, Sexton uses the imagery of burying oneself to express the idea of complete surrender to another person.
Another theme of the poem is the idea of transformation. The speaker of the poem seems to be undergoing a transformation, as they are consumed by their desire for their lover. Sexton writes, "Oh you devour me, / your fierce kiss/ nails me/ to my senses, / consuming my flesh, / claiming ownership / of water, fire, air, / and earth, / beyond which nothing has worth." Here, the speaker is transformed by their lover's desire, and everything else in the world pales in comparison.
Finally, the poem explores the idea of pain and pleasure. Sexton writes, "Oh this is the voraciousness of love, / this is the violence of direction, / that one cannot be by oneself / and so once more we transform / the horizon." Here, the speaker acknowledges the pain that comes with love and desire, but also the pleasure that comes with being consumed by another person.
Structure
Oh is a short poem, comprising only six lines. The brevity of the poem adds to its intensity and power. The poem is also structured in such a way that each line builds on the previous one. The repetition of the word "Oh" throughout the poem serves as a sort of refrain, emphasizing the speaker's intense desire.
Sexton also employs enjambment throughout the poem. This technique is used to create a sense of flow and movement, as the lines spill over into each other. For example, in the line "Oh, you devour me," the word "devour" spills over into the next line, emphasizing the intensity of the speaker's desire.
Interpretation
The poem Oh is a deeply personal and intimate exploration of love and desire. It is a poem that is both beautiful and painful, as it speaks to the universal human experience of longing.
One interpretation of the poem is that it is about the transformative power of love. The speaker seems to be undergoing a transformation, as they are consumed by their desire for their lover. The imagery of burying oneself under the lover emphasizes the idea of complete surrender. The idea of possession, too, speaks to the transformative power of love. The speaker longs to be possessed by their lover, to be consumed by their desire.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is about the pain of love. The speaker acknowledges that love is voracious and violent, and that it can be all-consuming. The line "beyond which nothing has worth" speaks to the idea that love can make everything else in the world pale in comparison. This line also suggests that love can be isolating, as the speaker cannot be by themselves without feeling incomplete.
Sexton's use of imagery is particularly powerful in this poem. The imagery of burying oneself under the lover emphasizes the idea of complete surrender. The use of the word "devour" adds to the sense of intensity and urgency in the poem. The repetition of the word "Oh" throughout the poem emphasizes the speaker's intense desire.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Oh is a deeply personal and intimate exploration of love and desire. The poem speaks to the universal human experience of longing and the pain that comes with it. The themes of possession, transformation, and pain all contribute to the intensity and power of the poem. Sexton's use of imagery and structure adds to the sense of urgency and intensity in the poem. Oh is a haunting and beautiful poem that explores the complexities of love and desire.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Oh, Anne Sexton's classic poem, is a powerful and emotional piece that delves into the complexities of human relationships and the struggles of self-discovery. With its vivid imagery and raw honesty, this poem has become a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing someone, possibly a lover or a friend, with the word "Oh." This simple word sets the tone for the rest of the poem, conveying a sense of longing and desperation. The speaker is clearly in a state of emotional turmoil, and the repetition of "Oh" throughout the poem emphasizes this feeling.
The first stanza of the poem describes the speaker's desire to be loved and accepted. She longs for someone to "take me in your arms / and love me, and love me again." This desire for love and affection is a universal human need, and the speaker's vulnerability and openness in expressing it is both relatable and poignant.
In the second stanza, the speaker reveals that she has been hurt in the past. She describes herself as "a wounded bird / that cannot fly." This image of a wounded bird is a powerful metaphor for the speaker's emotional state. She feels broken and unable to move forward, trapped in her pain and unable to escape.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Here, the speaker reveals that she is struggling with her own identity. She says, "Oh, I am a lonely painter / I live in a box of paints." This image of the lonely painter is a metaphor for the speaker's own sense of isolation and detachment from the world around her. She feels as though she is living in her own world, cut off from others and unable to connect.
The fourth stanza of the poem is a turning point. Here, the speaker acknowledges that she is not alone in her struggles. She says, "Oh, I am not alone / not even the lonely / are alone." This realization is a powerful one, and it allows the speaker to begin to move past her pain and connect with others.
The final stanza of the poem is a beautiful and hopeful one. The speaker says, "Oh, love me, love me, / say you do / let me fly away with you." This image of flying away with someone is a powerful one, representing the speaker's desire to escape her pain and find happiness and love.
Overall, Oh is a powerful and emotional poem that speaks to the universal human experience of love, pain, and self-discovery. With its vivid imagery and raw honesty, this poem has become a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor Recommended Sites
Flutter News: Flutter news today, the latest packages, widgets and tutorialsFarmsim Games: The best highest rated farm sim games and similar game recommendations to the one you like
Video Game Speedrun: Youtube videos of the most popular games being speed run
Tech Summit: Track upcoming Top tech conferences, and their online posts to youtube
Compose Music - Best apps for music composition & Compose music online: Learn about the latest music composition apps and music software
Recommended Similar Analysis
To Mr. Cyriack Skinner Upon His Blindness by John Milton analysisShe rose to His Requirement by Emily Dickinson analysis
Acquainted With The Night by Robert Frost analysis
The Domain Of Arnheim by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes analysis
Saint Judas by James Wright analysis
Full Fathom Five by Sylvia Plath analysis
It dropped so low in my regard by Emily Dickinson analysis
The Eagle (A Fragment ) by Alfred, Lord Tennyson analysis
Endymion (excerpts) by John Keats analysis