'The Break Away' by Anne Sexton
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Your daisies have come
on the day of my divorce:
the courtroom a cement box,
a gas chamber for the infectious Jew in me
and a perhaps land, a possibly promised land
for the Jew in me,
but still a betrayal room for the till-death-do-us—
and yet a death, as in the unlocking of scissors
that makes the now separate parts useless,
even to cut each other up as we did yearly
under the crayoned-in sun.
The courtroom keeps squashing our lives as they break
into two cans ready for recycling,
flattened tin humans
and a tin law,
even for my twenty-five years of hanging on
by my teeth as I once saw at Ringling Brothers.
The gray room:
Judge, lawyer, witness
and me and invisible Skeezix,
and all the other torn
enduring the bewilderments
of their division.
Your daisies have come
on the day of my divorce.
They arrive like round yellow fish,
sucking with love at the coral of our love.
Yet they wait,
in their short time,
like little utero half-borns,
half killed, thin and bone soft.
They breathe the air that stands
for twenty-five illicit days,
the sun crawling inside the sheets,
the moon spinning like a tornado
in the washbowl,
and we orchestrated them both,
calling ourselves TWO CAMP DIRECTORS.
There was a song, our song on your cassette,
that played over and over
and baptised the prodigals.
It spoke the unspeakable,
as the rain will on an attic roof,
letting the animal join its soul
as we kneeled before a miracle--
forgetting its knife.
The daisies confer
in the old-married kitchen
papered with blue and green chefs
who call out pies, cookies, yummy,
at the charcoal and cigarette smoke
they wear like a yellowy salve.
The daisies absorb it all--
the twenty-five-year-old sanctioned love
(If one could call such handfuls of fists
and immobile arms that!)
and on this day my world rips itself up
while the country unfastens along
with its perjuring king and his court.
It unfastens into an abortion of belief,
as in me--
the legal rift--
as on might do with the daisies
but does not
for they stand for a love
undergoihng open heart surgery
that might take
if one prayed tough enough.
And yet I demand,
even in prayer,
that I am not a thief,
a mugger of need,
and that your heart survive
on its own,
belonging only to itself,
whole, entirely whole,
and workable
in its dark cavern under your ribs.
I pray it will know truth,
if truth catches in its cup
and yet I pray, as a child would,
that the surgery take.
I dream it is taking.
Next I dream the love is swallowing itself.
Next I dream the love is made of glass,
glass coming through the telephone
that is breaking slowly,
day by day, into my ear.
Next I dream that I put on the love
like a lifejacket and we float,
jacket and I,
we bounce on that priest-blue.
We are as light as a cat's ear
and it is safe,
safe far too long!
And I awaken quickly and go to the opposite window
and peer down at the moon in the pond
and know that beauty has walked over my head,
into this bedroom and out,
flowing out through the window screen,
dropping deep into the water
to hide.
I will observe the daisies
fade and dry up
wuntil they become flour,
snowing themselves onto the table
beside the drone of the refrigerator,
beside the radio playing Frankie
(as often as FM will allow)
snowing lightly, a tremor sinking from the ceiling--
as twenty-five years split from my side
like a growth that I sliced off like a melanoma.
It is six P.M. as I water these tiny weeds
and their little half-life,
their numbered days
that raged like a secret radio,
recalling love that I picked up innocently,
yet guiltily,
as my five-year-old daughter
picked gum off the sidewalk
and it became suddenly an elastic miracle.
For me it was love found
like a diamond
where carrots grow--
the glint of diamond on a plane wing,
meaning: DANGER! THICK ICE!
but the good crunch of that orange,
the diamond, the carrot,
both with four million years of resurrecting dirt,
and the love,
although Adam did not know the word,
the love of Adam
obeying his sudden gift.
You, who sought me for nine years,
in stories made up in front of your naked mirror
or walking through rooms of fog women,
you trying to forget the mother
who built guilt with the lumber of a locked door
as she sobbed her soured mild and fed you loss
through the keyhole,
you who wrote out your own birth
and built it with your own poems,
your own lumber, your own keyhole,
into the trunk and leaves of your manhood,
you, who fell into my words, years
before you fell into me (the other,
both the Camp Director and the camper),
you who baited your hook with wide-awake dreams,
and calls and letters and once a luncheon,
and twice a reading by me for you.
But I wouldn't!
Yet this year,
yanking off all past years,
I took the bait
and was pulled upward, upward,
into the sky and was held by the sun--
the quick wonder of its yellow lap--
and became a woman who learned her own shin
and dug into her soul and found it full,
and you became a man who learned his won skin
and dug into his manhood, his humanhood
and found you were as real as a baker
or a seer
and we became a home,
up into the elbows of each other's soul,
without knowing--
an invisible purchase--
that inhabits our house forever.
We were
blessed by the House-Die
by the altar of the color T.V.
and somehow managed to make a tiny marriage,
a tiny marriage
called belief,
as in the child's belief in the tooth fairy,
so close to absolute,
so daft within a year or two.
The daisies have come
for the last time.
And I who have,
each year of my life,
spoken to the tooth fairy,
believing in her,
even when I was her,
am helpless to stop your daisies from dying,
although your voice cries into the telephone:
Marry me! Marry me!
and my voice speaks onto these keys tonight:
The love is in dark trouble!
The love is starting to die,
right now--
we are in the process of it.
The empty process of it.
I see two deaths,
and the two men plod toward the mortuary of my heart,
and though I willed one away in court today
and I whisper dreams and birthdays into the other,
they both die like waves breaking over me
and I am drowning a little,
but always swimming
among the pillows and stones of the breakwater.
And though your daisies are an unwanted death,
I wade through the smell of their cancer
and recognize the prognosis,
its cartful of loss--
I say now,
you gave what you could.
It was quite a ferris wheel to spin on!
and the dead city of my marriage
seems less important
than the fact that the daisies came weekly,
over and over,
likes kisses that can't stop themselves.
There sit two deaths on November 5th, 1973.
Let one be forgotten--
Bury it! Wall it up!
But let me not forget the man
of my child-like flowers
though he sinks into the fog of Lake Superior,
he remains, his fingers the marvel
of fourth of July sparklers,
his furious ice cream cones of licking,
remains to cool my forehead with a washcloth
when I sweat into the bathtub of his being.
For the rest that is left:
name it gentle,
as gentle as radishes inhabiting
their short life in the earth,
name it gentle,
gentle as old friends waving so long at the window,
or in the drive,
name it gentle as maple wings singing
themselves upon the pond outside,
as sensuous as the mother-yellow in the pond,
that night that it was ours,
when our bodies floated and bumped
in moon water and the cicadas
called out like tongues.
Let such as this
be resurrected in all men
whenever they mold their days and nights
as when for twenty-five days and nights you molded mine
and planted the seed that dives into my God
and will do so forever
no matter how often I sweep the floor.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Break Away by Anne Sexton: A Literary Criticism
Have you ever felt trapped in a situation that seemed impossible to escape from? Have you ever yearned for freedom but felt weighed down by the expectations and obligations of society? If you have, then Anne Sexton's poem, The Break Away, may resonate with you on a deep level.
The Break Away is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the theme of breaking free from societal constraints and finding one's own path in life. Through vivid imagery and metaphorical language, Sexton conveys the sense of urgency and longing that accompanies this journey towards freedom. In this literary criticism, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this poem, examining its structure, language, and symbolism to gain a deeper understanding of Sexton's message.
Structure and Form
The Break Away consists of 22 lines divided into 5 stanzas of varying lengths. The poem is written in free verse, with no regular rhyme or meter, giving it a loose and flowing structure that mimics the feeling of breaking free. The lack of punctuation also adds to the sense of fluidity and movement in the poem, with phrases and clauses blending into each other without pause. This creates a sense of urgency and momentum that drives the poem forward, as if pushing the speaker towards her goal of freedom.
The poem begins with a series of short, choppy lines that convey a sense of constriction and tightness:
"Your daisies have come on the day of my divorce: the courtroom a cement box, a gas chamber for the infectious Jew in me and a perhaps land, a possibly promised land"
These lines are filled with stark imagery that paints a bleak picture of the speaker's situation. The use of the word "gas chamber" is particularly striking, evoking the horrors of the Holocaust and suggesting that the speaker feels trapped and persecuted. The contrast between the beauty of the daisies and the ugliness of the courtroom highlights the speaker's desire for freedom and escape.
As the poem progresses, the lines become longer and more flowing, mirroring the speaker's growing sense of liberation:
"I broke away from the choked past and slammed the door on its fancy face. The virgin unfurled herself like a flag and soiled her name on a wild outing."
These lines are filled with action and movement, as the speaker asserts her independence and throws off the shackles of the past. The use of the word "virgin" is interesting here, as it suggests both purity and innocence as well as confinement and restriction. The image of the virgin unfurling herself like a flag is a powerful one, representing the speaker's newfound freedom and self-expression.
The final stanza of the poem is the longest and most complex, reflecting the speaker's journey towards self-discovery:
"I pulled the thing off my head and threw it into the dirt. I took the brittle sticks that hoarded my hair and, snapping them under my heel, I left them there. I stepped upon my dress, hiked it up like a weapon, and pounced on the afternoon. The earth spun with me. I danced on the belly of life and I forgot the rest."
These lines are filled with powerful and vivid imagery, as the speaker sheds the trappings of society and embraces her own identity. The use of the verb "pounced" is particularly striking, suggesting a sense of playfulness and joy that accompanies the speaker's newfound freedom. The image of the earth spinning with the speaker conveys a sense of unity and connection with the natural world, as if the speaker has found her place in the universe.
Language and Imagery
Throughout The Break Away, Anne Sexton uses vivid and metaphorical language to convey the speaker's journey towards freedom. The use of metaphor is particularly effective in this poem, as it allows Sexton to convey complex ideas and emotions in a way that is both powerful and accessible.
One of the most striking metaphors in the poem is the use of the courtroom as a "cement box" and "gas chamber". These images suggest a sense of confinement and oppression that the speaker feels within the bounds of society. The use of the word "infectious Jew" is also noteworthy here, as it suggests a sense of persecution and otherness that the speaker feels as a member of a marginalized group.
Another powerful metaphor in the poem is the use of the virgin as a symbol of confinement and restriction. The image of the virgin unfurling herself like a flag is a striking one, representing the speaker's newfound freedom and self-expression. The use of the verb "soiled" here is interesting, as it suggests both a sense of defilement and a breaking of taboos.
The final stanza of the poem is filled with powerful and evocative images, as the speaker sheds the trappings of society and embraces her own identity. The use of the verb "pounced" is particularly effective here, conveying a sense of playfulness and joy that accompanies the speaker's newfound freedom. The image of the earth spinning with the speaker is also striking, suggesting a sense of unity and connection with the natural world.
Symbolism and Themes
The Break Away is a poem that is rich in symbolism and themes, exploring the idea of breaking free from societal constraints and finding one's own path in life. The use of metaphorical language and vivid imagery allows Sexton to convey complex ideas and emotions in a way that is both powerful and accessible.
One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of societal oppression and confinement. The use of the courtroom as a "cement box" and "gas chamber" highlights the speaker's sense of persecution and oppression, while the image of the virgin unfurling herself like a flag suggests a sense of confinement and restriction. However, the poem also explores the idea of breaking free from these constraints and finding one's own identity.
Another important theme of the poem is the idea of self-discovery and self-expression. The final stanza of the poem is filled with powerful and evocative images that suggest a sense of liberation and joy that comes with shedding societal expectations and embracing one's own identity. The use of the verb "pounced" is particularly effective here, conveying a sense of playfulness and freedom that accompanies the speaker's newfound sense of self.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Break Away is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the theme of breaking free from societal constraints and finding one's own path in life. Anne Sexton's use of metaphorical language and vivid imagery allows her to convey complex ideas and emotions in a way that is both powerful and accessible. The use of symbolism and themes allows the poem to speak to a universal human experience, as we all yearn for freedom and self-expression. Overall, The Break Away is a timeless and poignant poem that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Break Away: A Poem of Liberation and Self-Discovery
Anne Sexton's "The Break Away" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the theme of liberation and self-discovery. The poem tells the story of a young girl who breaks away from the constraints of her life and discovers her true self. Through vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, Sexton captures the emotional journey of the protagonist as she struggles to break free from the expectations of others and find her own path.
The poem begins with the protagonist describing her life as a "cage" that she is trapped in. She feels suffocated by the expectations of her family and society, and longs to break free. The use of the metaphor of a cage is particularly effective, as it conveys the sense of confinement and restriction that the protagonist feels. The image of a bird trapped in a cage is a common one in literature, and Sexton uses it here to great effect.
The protagonist then describes her desire to break away from her life and find her own path. She longs to "fly away" and discover her true self. This desire for freedom and self-discovery is a common theme in literature, and Sexton captures it beautifully in this poem. The use of the verb "fly" is particularly effective, as it conveys the sense of movement and freedom that the protagonist desires.
As the poem progresses, the protagonist describes the obstacles that she must overcome in order to break free. She describes the "fear" and "doubt" that hold her back, and the "chains" that bind her to her old life. These obstacles are common ones that many people face when trying to break free from the expectations of others and discover their true selves. The use of the metaphor of chains is particularly effective, as it conveys the sense of bondage and restriction that the protagonist feels.
Despite these obstacles, the protagonist is determined to break free and discover her true self. She describes how she "flaps her wings" and "takes off" into the unknown. This image of flight is particularly powerful, as it conveys the sense of freedom and exhilaration that the protagonist feels as she breaks free from her old life. The use of the verb "flap" is also effective, as it conveys the sense of effort and struggle that the protagonist must exert in order to break free.
As the poem comes to a close, the protagonist describes how she has finally broken free and discovered her true self. She describes how she "soars" through the sky, free from the constraints of her old life. This image of soaring is particularly effective, as it conveys the sense of freedom and joy that the protagonist feels as she discovers her true self. The use of the verb "soar" is also effective, as it conveys the sense of effortless movement and grace that the protagonist now possesses.
In conclusion, "The Break Away" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the theme of liberation and self-discovery. Through vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, Sexton captures the emotional journey of the protagonist as she struggles to break free from the expectations of others and find her own path. The use of the metaphor of a cage, the image of flight, and the use of the verb "soar" are particularly effective in conveying the sense of confinement, struggle, and ultimate liberation that the protagonist experiences. This poem is a testament to the power of self-discovery and the importance of breaking free from the constraints of society in order to find one's true self.
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