'For God While Sleeping' by Anne Sexton
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Sleeping in fever, I am unfair
to know just who you are:
hung up like a pig on exhibit,
the delicate wrists,
the beard drooling blood and vinegar;
hooked to your own weight,
jolting toward death under your nameplate.
Everyone in this crowd needs a bath.
I am dressed in rags.
The mother wears blue.
You grind your teeth
and with each new breath
your jaws gape and your diaper sags.
I am not to blame
for all this. I do not know your name.
Skinny man, you are somebody's fault.
You ride on dark poles --
a wooden bird that a trader built
for some fool who felt
that he could make the flight. Now you roll
in your sleep, seasick
on your own breathing, poor old convict.
Submitted by Venus
Editor 1 Interpretation
"For God While Sleeping": A Deep Dive into Anne Sexton's Poetic Brilliance
Anne Sexton is a name that is synonymous with confessional poetry. Her works, known for their raw emotion and vivid imagery, have inspired countless poets since their publication in the mid-twentieth century. Among her most renowned poems is "For God While Sleeping," which explores the theme of the divine and the human condition. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deep into Sexton's poetic genius, examining the themes, symbols, and language used in the poem.
The Poem's Structure and Form
Before we delve into the poem's meaning, it is essential to discuss its structure and form. "For God While Sleeping" is a free verse poem comprising 24 lines. The poem contains no rhyme scheme and no consistent meter, giving the poem a conversational tone. The lack of rhyme and meter allows Sexton to focus on the poem's content and message, rather than conforming to a strict poetic structure. Sexton uses enjambment throughout the poem, with lines blending into each other, emphasizing the poem's fluidity and the idea of a dream-like state.
The Theme of the Divine and the Human Condition
The poem's central theme is the relationship between the divine and the human condition. Sexton explores this theme through a series of vivid and often unsettling images, blurring the line between the sacred and the profane. The poem's title, "For God While Sleeping," immediately sets the tone for the poem, indicating that the poem will explore the idea of the divine while in a state of rest. The opening lines of the poem describe the speaker's dream, where she is in a church, surrounded by the "faint perfume of incense" (1). The dreamlike atmosphere is established from the onset, creating an ethereal setting in which the speaker is free to explore the complex relationship between humans and the divine.
Sexton uses religious imagery throughout the poem, describing the "red stained glass" (2) and the "candles of the saints" (4). The use of religious symbols highlights the speaker's desire for a connection with the divine, but also emphasizes the distance between humans and God. The speaker describes "a priest at the altar" (3), suggesting a religious ceremony is taking place, but the speaker remains on the sidelines, a passive observer. The distance between the speaker and the divine is further emphasized in the lines "I am not welcome here / and yet I come" (7-8). The speaker's desire for a connection with the divine is evident, but her presence in the church is not entirely welcomed. This theme is continued throughout the poem, with the speaker describing her desire to "walk on water / and not on earth" (9-10). The idea of walking on water is a reference to the biblical story of Jesus walking on water, highlighting the speaker's desire to be close to the divine.
Sexton's use of vivid and often grotesque imagery highlights the complex nature of the divine-human relationship. The speaker describes "a dog with a thousand nipples" (11), a disturbing image that blurs the line between the sacred and the profane. The image of the dog with a thousand nipples is a metaphor for the divine, suggesting that the divine can be found in unexpected places. The image is unsettling, but also emphasizes the speaker's desire for a connection with the divine. This desire is further emphasized in the closing lines of the poem, where the speaker states, "I am not here to sleep, Lord" (23). The speaker's desire to be close to the divine is evident, but the distance between the human and the divine remains.
The Use of Language
One of the most striking aspects of "For God While Sleeping" is Sexton's use of language. The poem is filled with vivid and often shocking imagery, emphasizing the complex nature of the divine-human relationship. The use of religious imagery, such as "red stained glass" (2) and "candles of the saints" (4), highlights the speaker's desire for a connection with the divine. However, the use of unsettling images, such as "a dog with a thousand nipples" (11), suggests that the divine can be found in unexpected places.
Sexton's use of enjambment throughout the poem creates a fluid and dreamlike atmosphere, emphasizing the idea of a dream state. The use of enjambment allows lines to blend into each other, creating a sense of continuity and fluidity. The poem's conversational tone, created through the absence of a strict meter and rhyme scheme, emphasizes the poem's message rather than its form.
Symbolism in "For God While Sleeping"
The poem is filled with symbolism, emphasizing the complex nature of the divine-human relationship. The use of religious symbols, such as "red stained glass" (2) and "candles of the saints" (4), highlights the speaker's desire for a connection with the divine. However, the use of unsettling images, such as "a dog with a thousand nipples" (11), suggests that the divine can be found in unexpected places. The image of the dog with a thousand nipples is a metaphor for the divine, suggesting that the divine can be found in unexpected places.
The image of the priest at the altar (3) emphasizes the distance between the human and the divine. The speaker remains on the sidelines, a passive observer, highlighting the distance between the two. The use of the image of walking on water (9-10) is a reference to the biblical story of Jesus walking on water, emphasizing the speaker's desire to be close to the divine.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "For God While Sleeping" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complex relationship between the divine and the human condition. Sexton's use of vivid and often unsettling imagery, religious symbolism, and enjambment creates a dreamlike atmosphere that emphasizes the poem's theme. The poem's conversational tone and absence of a strict meter and rhyme scheme allow the poem's message to shine through. Overall, "For God While Sleeping" is a testament to Sexton's poetic brilliance, and a poem that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
For God While Sleeping: A Poem of Spiritual Awakening
Anne Sexton's poem "For God While Sleeping" is a powerful exploration of the human search for spiritual meaning and connection. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Sexton takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery and awakening, ultimately arriving at a place of profound insight and understanding.
The poem begins with a description of the speaker's sleep, which is interrupted by a "voice" that calls out to her. This voice is not a physical one, but rather a spiritual one, representing the call of the divine. The speaker is initially resistant to this call, wanting to stay in the comfort of her sleep and avoid the difficult work of spiritual growth. However, the voice persists, urging her to wake up and face the challenges ahead.
As the speaker begins to awaken, she is confronted with a series of powerful images that represent the struggles and obstacles she must overcome in order to find spiritual fulfillment. She sees "a thousand doors" that lead to different paths, each one tempting her with its own set of promises and rewards. She also sees "a hundred mirrors" that reflect back to her the many different versions of herself, each one struggling to find its place in the world.
Despite these challenges, the speaker is determined to continue on her journey. She recognizes that the path to spiritual awakening is not an easy one, but she is willing to face whatever comes her way in order to find the truth she seeks. She says, "I will go on, I will go on / till the skin of my bones holds me in."
As the poem progresses, the speaker's language becomes more and more intense, reflecting the depth of her spiritual struggle. She speaks of "the blackness of my life" and "the darkness of my soul," acknowledging the pain and suffering that she has experienced on her journey. However, she also recognizes that this pain is necessary for her growth, saying, "I have been broken, I have been loved / I have let myself die into the darkness / and I have risen again."
Ultimately, the speaker arrives at a place of profound insight and understanding. She realizes that the voice that called out to her in her sleep was not an external one, but rather a part of herself that had been waiting to be awakened. She says, "I have found the voice that will be my guide / the voice within me that will never die."
This realization is a powerful one, representing the speaker's ultimate triumph over the challenges and obstacles she has faced. She has found the truth she was seeking, and she knows that she will never be alone on her journey again.
In conclusion, "For God While Sleeping" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the human search for spiritual meaning and connection. Through vivid imagery and intense language, Anne Sexton takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery and awakening, ultimately arriving at a place of profound insight and understanding. This poem is a testament to the power of the human spirit, and a reminder that no matter how difficult our journeys may be, we are never truly alone.
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