'I Remember' by Anne Sexton
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By the first of August
the invisible beetles began
to snore and the grass was
as tough as hemp and was
no color--no more than
the sand was a color and
we had worn our bare feet
bare since the twentieth
of June and there were times
we forgot to wind up your
alarm clock and some nights
we took our gin warm and neat
from old jelly glasses while
the sun blew out of sight
like a red picture hat and
one day I tied my hair back
with a ribbon and you said
that I looked almost like
a puritan lady and what
I remember best is that
the door to your room was
the door to mine.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"I Remember" by Anne Sexton: An Exploration of Memory and Trauma
Have you ever wondered why some memories stick with us forever while others fade away? Why some experiences shape us and our perspectives on the world while others seem inconsequential? Anne Sexton's poem "I Remember" delves into the nature of memory and trauma, exploring how certain events can sear themselves into our minds and alter us forever.
At its core, "I Remember" is a series of fragmented memories, each one a snapshot of a moment in the speaker's life. But as we read on, we begin to see how these memories are not isolated incidents, but rather a mosaic of experiences that have shaped the speaker's identity.
The poem begins with the line "I remember the neckcurls, limp and damp as tendrils" – a vivid image that sets the tone for what is to come. We are immediately drawn into the speaker's consciousness, invited to see the world through her eyes.
As the poem progresses, we see the speaker recalling a variety of experiences – some mundane, some traumatic. She remembers "the white chrysanthemums, each cut a full length" and "the red clay bowls brimming with noodles." But she also remembers more difficult moments, such as "the man who played the accordion in the subway" and "the woman who walked into the sea."
What is striking about these memories is how they are all presented in the same matter-of-fact tone. There is no distinction between the joyful and the painful – they all simply exist in the speaker's mind as equal parts of her past. This suggests that the speaker has come to terms with the fact that life is not always easy, and that memories – both good and bad – are necessary for us to understand ourselves and the world around us.
One of the most powerful moments in the poem comes near the end, when the speaker recalls a traumatic event from her childhood: "I remember what I saw at twelve years old / I am dead now, I see it still." This line is haunting in its simplicity, conveying the lasting impact that trauma can have on a person's memory and psyche. The fact that the speaker says "I am dead now" suggests that the trauma has fundamentally changed her, that a part of her has been lost forever.
But despite the darkness of this memory, the poem ends on a note of hope. The speaker remembers "the first day in primary school, / the captain knocking on the door." This memory is a symbol of new beginnings, of the resilience of the human spirit. No matter what we have been through, there is always the possibility of starting fresh and moving forward.
In terms of form, "I Remember" is a free-verse poem with no discernible rhyme scheme or meter. This lack of structure reflects the fragmented nature of memory itself, the way that our recollections can be disjointed and incomplete. The poem is also composed of short, concise lines that add to its sense of immediacy and intimacy. We feel as though we are sitting beside the speaker as she recounts her memories, as though we are privy to her innermost thoughts and feelings.
Overall, "I Remember" is a poignant and powerful poem that speaks to the complexity of memory and trauma. Anne Sexton's use of simple, direct language allows the reader to connect with the speaker on a visceral level, while the poem's structure reflects the fractured nature of memory itself. This is a poem that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it, a testament to the enduring power of art to illuminate the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
I Remember: A Poem of Nostalgia and Loss
Anne Sexton's "I Remember" is a hauntingly beautiful poem that captures the essence of nostalgia and loss. The poem is a series of memories that the speaker recalls, each one evoking a sense of longing and sadness. The poem is a reflection on the past, a time that is gone forever, and the speaker's attempt to come to terms with it.
The poem begins with the speaker recalling her childhood, a time when life was simple and carefree. She remembers playing with her friends, riding her bike, and the smell of freshly cut grass. The memories are vivid and detailed, as if the speaker is reliving them in her mind. The use of sensory details, such as the smell of the grass, helps to create a sense of nostalgia and longing for a time that is gone forever.
As the poem progresses, the memories become more complex and emotional. The speaker recalls her first love, a boy who she loved deeply but who ultimately broke her heart. She remembers the pain of the breakup, the tears she cried, and the feeling of emptiness that followed. The memory is bittersweet, as the speaker acknowledges that the pain of the breakup was worth the joy of the love they shared.
The poem then takes a darker turn, as the speaker recalls the death of her father. She remembers the moment she found out, the shock and disbelief she felt, and the overwhelming sadness that followed. The memory is raw and emotional, as the speaker struggles to come to terms with the loss of her father. The use of short, fragmented sentences helps to convey the sense of shock and disbelief that the speaker felt.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker reflects on the passage of time, and the inevitability of death. She acknowledges that everything she has ever known will one day be gone, and that she too will eventually die. The memory of her father's death serves as a reminder of this fact, and the speaker is left with a sense of sadness and longing for a time that is gone forever.
Overall, "I Remember" is a powerful poem that captures the essence of nostalgia and loss. The use of vivid sensory details and emotional memories helps to create a sense of longing for a time that is gone forever. The poem is a reflection on the passage of time, and the inevitability of death. It is a reminder that life is fleeting, and that we must cherish the moments we have while we can.
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