'The Division Of Parts' by Anne Sexton
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1.
Mother, my Mary Gray,
once resident of Gloucester
and Essex County,
a photostat of your will
arrived in the mail today.
This is the division of money.
I am one third
of your daughters counting my bounty
or I am a queen alone
in the parlor still,
eating the bread and honey.
It is Good Friday.
Black birds pick at my window sill.
Your coat in my closet,
your bright stones on my hand,
the gaudy fur animals
I do not know how to use,
settle on me like a debt.
A week ago, while the hard March gales
beat on your house,
we sorted your things: obstacles
of letters, family silver,
eyeglasses and shoes.
Like some unseasoned Christmas, its scales
rigged and reset,
I bundled out gifts I did not choose.
Now the houts of The Cross
rewind. In Boston, the devout
work their cold knees
toward that sweet martyrdom
that Christ planned. My timely loss
is too customary to note; and yet
I planned to suffer
and I cannot. It does not please
my yankee bones to watch
where the dying is done
in its usly hours. Black birds peck
at my window glass
and Easter will take its ragged son.
The clutter of worship
that you taught me, Mary Gray,
is old. I imitate
a memory of belief
that I do not own. I trip
on your death and jesus, my stranger
floats up over
my Christian home, wearing his straight
thorn tree. I have cast my lot
and am one third thief
of you. Time, that rearranger
of estates, equips
me with your garments, but not with grief.
2.
This winter when
cancer began its ugliness
I grieved with you each day
for three months
and found you in your private nook
of the medicinal palace
for New England Women
and never once
forgot how long it took.
I read to you
from The New Yorker, ate suppers
you wouldn't eat, fussed
with your flowers,
joked with your nurses, as if I
were the balm among lepers,
as if I could undo
a life in hours
if I never said goodbye.
But you turned old,
all your fifty-eight years sliding
like masks from your skull;
and at the end
I packed your nightgowns in suitcases,
paid the nurses, came riding
home as if I'd been told
I could pretend
people live in places.
3.
Since then I have pretended ease,
loved with the trickeries of need, but not enough
to shed my daughterhood
or sweeten him as a man.
I drink the five o' clock martinis
and poke at this dry page like a rough
goat. Fool! I fumble my lost childhood
for a mother and lounge in sad stuff
with love to catch and catch as catch can.
And Christ still waits. I have tried
to exorcise the memory of each event
and remain still, a mixed child,
heavy with cloths of you.
Sweet witch, you are my worried guide.
Such dangerous angels walk through Lent.
Their walls creak Anne! Convert! Convert!
My desk moves. Its cavr murmurs Boo
and I am taken and beguiled.
Or wrong. For all the way I've come
I'll have to go again. Instead, I must convert
to love as reasonable
as Latin, as sold as earthenware:
an equilibrium
I never knew. And Lent will keep its hurt
for someone else. Christ knows enough
staunch guys have hitched him in trouble.
thinking his sticks were badges to wear.
4.
Spring rusts on its skinny branch
and last summer's lawn
is soggy and brown.
Yesterday is just a number.
All of its winters avalanche
out of sight. What was, is gone.
Mother, last night I slept
in your Bonwit Teller nightgown.
Divided, you climbed into my head.
There in my jabbering dream
I heard my own angry cries
and I cursed you, Dame
keep out of my slumber.
My good Dame, you are dead.
And Mother, three stones
slipped from your glittering eyes.
Now it's Friday's noon
and I would still curse
you with my rhyming words
and bring you flapping back, old love,
old circus knitting, god-in-her-moon,
all fairest in my lang syne verse,
the gauzy bride among the children,
the fancy amid the absurd
and awkward, that horn for hounds
that skipper homeward, that museum
keeper of stiff starfish, that blaze
within the pilgrim woman,
a clown mender, a dove's
cheek among the stones,
my Lady of first words,
this is the division of ways.
And now, while Christ stays
fastened to his Crucifix
so that love may praise
his sacrifice
and not the grotesque metaphor,
you come, a brave ghost, to fix
in my mind without praise
or paradise
to make me your inheritor.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Division of Parts by Anne Sexton: Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Anne Sexton is a renowned poet, famous for her confessional poetry style that delves into deep and personal emotions. The Division of Parts is one of her famous works that has received critical acclaim and touched the hearts of many readers. This poem is a representation of Sexton's struggles with her identity and the division of self. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes and stylistic elements of The Division of Parts and their significance in the poem.
Theme of Identity
The theme of identity is central to The Division of Parts. Sexton's poem talks about the divide that exists within her self and the struggle to reconcile these different parts of herself. The poem is an exploration of the different roles that Sexton plays in her life, such as mother, wife, and artist, and the tensions that arise from these roles.
The poem opens with the lines, "My love, I am the arrow, / The dew that flies / Suicidal, at one with the drive / Into the red / Eye, the cauldron of morning." Here, Sexton is presenting herself as an arrow, a symbol of direction and purpose. She is also using imagery to portray her inner struggle to find her place in the world. The dew that flies "Suicidal" suggests that she is willing to take risks and face the consequences of her actions.
Sexton's use of metaphors continues throughout the poem, with each new image shedding light on her identity. For example, she describes herself as a "snake" in the second stanza, which suggests that she is capable of shedding her skin and transforming into something new. This transformation is significant because it represents Sexton's desire to reconcile the different parts of herself.
Stylistic Elements
Sexton's use of language and poetic devices is another important aspect of The Division of Parts. The poem is written in free verse, which allows Sexton to experiment with her language and structure. The lack of rhyme and meter also gives the poem a more natural and conversational tone, which adds to its confessional style.
The poem's structure is also important. The Division of Parts is made up of six stanzas, each with four lines. The short stanzas give the poem a sense of urgency and intensify the emotional impact of each line. The poem's brevity also allows Sexton to focus on the most important aspects of her identity.
Sexton's use of imagery is one of the most significant stylistic elements of The Division of Parts. Each new image adds to the poem's overall meaning and reinforces the theme of identity. For example, in the third stanza, Sexton describes herself as a "wife," which suggests that she is confined by societal expectations. However, she immediately follows this image with the line "I am also the wife of the sun," which suggests that she is capable of transcending these expectations.
Significance of The Division of Parts
The Division of Parts is significant for several reasons. First, it is a powerful exploration of the theme of identity. Sexton's struggles with her different roles and identities are relatable to many readers, and the poem's confessional style creates a sense of intimacy between the reader and the speaker.
The poem is also significant because of its use of metaphors and imagery. Each image adds to the poem's overall meaning and reinforces the theme of identity. Sexton's use of language and poetic devices is also significant because it creates a unique and powerful voice that is distinctly hers.
Finally, The Division of Parts is significant because it represents Sexton's desire to reconcile the different parts of herself. The poem is an exploration of her inner struggles and her attempt to find a sense of wholeness. This message is inspiring to readers who may be struggling with their own sense of identity and searching for a way to reconcile their different roles and identities.
Conclusion
The Division of Parts is a powerful and significant poem that explores the theme of identity. Sexton's use of language and poetic devices creates a unique and powerful voice that is distinctly hers. The poem's structure and use of imagery reinforce its overall meaning and message. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to convey deep and personal emotions and experiences. Anne Sexton's work will continue to inspire and touch the hearts of readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Division of Parts: A Masterpiece of Anne Sexton
Anne Sexton, a renowned American poet, is known for her confessional poetry that deals with themes of mental illness, death, and sexuality. Her poem, The Division of Parts, is a prime example of her unique style of writing that is both raw and honest. The poem is a reflection on the human body and its various parts, and how they are divided and categorized. In this analysis, we will explore the various themes and literary devices used in The Division of Parts and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.
The poem begins with the lines, "The division of parts / is not what I wish to talk of." This opening sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Sexton is not interested in discussing the physical division of the body, but rather the emotional and psychological division that exists within us. She goes on to say, "I wish to speak of the division of souls / the separation of you and me / the splitting of hairs / the slicing of air." This shift in focus from the physical to the emotional is a recurring theme throughout the poem.
One of the most striking aspects of The Division of Parts is the use of imagery. Sexton uses vivid and often disturbing imagery to convey her message. For example, she writes, "I have seen the division of souls / like a china cup broken, / the sharp edges of the break / cutting the hands." This image of a broken china cup is a powerful metaphor for the division of souls. The sharp edges of the break represent the pain and hurt that comes with emotional separation, while the cutting of the hands symbolizes the physical manifestation of that pain.
Another example of powerful imagery in the poem is when Sexton writes, "I have seen the slicing of air / with a knife that has no handle." This image is particularly striking because it is both violent and surreal. The knife with no handle represents the lack of control we have over our emotions and the way they can cut through the air like a sharp blade.
Sexton also uses repetition throughout the poem to emphasize certain themes. For example, she repeats the phrase "the division of parts" several times throughout the poem. This repetition serves to reinforce the idea that the physical division of the body is not what she is interested in discussing. Instead, she is focused on the emotional and psychological divisions that exist within us.
Another recurring theme in The Division of Parts is the idea of duality. Sexton writes, "I have seen the division of parts / the splitting of hairs / the two sides of the coin / the two-faced Janus." This idea of two opposing forces is present throughout the poem. The splitting of hairs represents the fine line between love and hate, while the two sides of the coin represent the duality of good and evil. The two-faced Janus is a reference to the Roman god of beginnings and endings, who is often depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions.
The poem also explores the idea of identity and how it is shaped by our experiences. Sexton writes, "I have seen the division of parts / the way we are shaped by our past / the way we are divided by our memories." This idea of being shaped by our past is a common theme in Sexton's poetry. She often writes about the impact of childhood trauma and how it can shape our adult lives.
The Division of Parts is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores a wide range of themes and ideas. Sexton's use of vivid imagery, repetition, and duality all contribute to the overall meaning of the poem. At its core, The Division of Parts is a reflection on the human condition and the emotional and psychological divisions that exist within us. It is a powerful reminder that we are all complex beings with a multitude of experiences and emotions that shape who we are.
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