'Words' by Anne Sexton

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Be careful of words,even the miraculous ones.For the miraculous we do our best,sometimes they swarm like insectsand leave not a sting but a kiss.They can be as good as fingers.They can be as trusty as the rockyou stick your bottom on.But they can be both daisies and bruises.Yet I am in love with words.They are doves falling out of the ceiling.They are six holy oranges sitting in my lap.They are the trees, the legs of summer,and the sun, its passionate face.Yet often they fail me.I have so much I want to say,so many stories, images, proverbs, etc.But the words aren't good enough,the wrong ones kiss me.Sometimes I fly like an eaglebut with the wings of a wren.But I try to take careand be gentle to them.Words and eggs must be handled with care.Once broken they are impossiblethings to repair.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Inner Turmoil of Anne Sexton in "Words"

"Words", written by Anne Sexton, is a hauntingly beautiful poem that delves into the author's inner turmoil. It is a powerful piece of literature that shows the darkest depths of the human psyche.

The poem begins with a description of the power of words. Sexton uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the transformative power of words:

Be careful of words,
even the miraculous ones.
For the miraculous we do our best,
sometimes they swarm like insects
and leave not a sting but a kiss.

The opening lines of the poem set the tone for the rest of the piece. Sexton warns the reader to be careful of words, even the miraculous ones. This sets up the idea that words can be both beautiful and dangerous at the same time.

Sexton then goes on to describe her own relationship with words. She describes how she has spent her life trying to find the right words to express her innermost thoughts and feelings:

I woke up one morning and thought I was a genius.
But upon second thought, I decided maybe I'm not.
I dreamed of a son, and he was received.
The child was asleep when I got to him
and wrapped him up and took him home.

These lines show that Sexton is struggling with her own genius. She has always wanted to be a writer, but she is unsure of her own talent. The dream of a son symbolizes the birth of a new idea, a new creative work that she wants to bring to life.

Sexton then moves on to describe the darker side of words. She talks about the power that words have to hurt and to destroy:

Words can be bullets or butterflies.
It depends on who you are,
and what words they are.

These lines are particularly powerful because they show how words can be both a source of comfort and a source of pain. Sexton is warning the reader that words can be used to hurt or to heal, depending on the intentions of the speaker.

The poem then takes a dark turn as Sexton describes the pain that she has experienced in her life. She talks about how she has been hurt by the people that she loves:

I've been bitten off at the elbow
and I've been stuck in the heart.
And I've been taken head-on
by a mirror that wouldn't talk back,
by eyes that wouldn't blink,
by a bed that wouldn't let me sleep.```

These lines are incredibly powerful because they show the pain that Sexton has experienced in her life. She has been hurt by the people that she loves, and she feels as though she is trapped in a world that is full of pain.

Sexton then goes on to describe the power of love. She talks about how love can be both a source of joy and a source of pain:

Love is not a profession genteel or otherwise sex is not dentistry the slick filling of aches and cavities you are not my doctor you are not my cure, nobody has that power, you are merely a fellow/traveller```

These lines are incredibly powerful because they show the complexity of love. Sexton is warning the reader that love can be both a source of joy and a source of pain. She is also warning the reader that love is not a profession, and that no one person has the power to cure another.

The poem then ends with a powerful statement about the power of words:

Words are the oldest things we know
and the newest.
Orpheus knew that power
and so do you.
And so do I.

These lines are incredibly powerful because they show the transformative power of words. Sexton is saying that no matter how old or new a word is, it has the power to transform us. She is also saying that we all have the power to use words to transform ourselves and the world around us.

In conclusion, "Words" is a powerful poem that delves into the inner turmoil of Anne Sexton. It is a poem that shows the darkest depths of the human psyche, and the transformative power of words. It is a hauntingly beautiful piece of literature that will stay with the reader long after they have finished reading it.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Words by Anne Sexton: A Masterpiece of Confessional Poetry

Anne Sexton, one of the most prominent poets of the confessional poetry movement, wrote Poetry Words in 1960. This poem is a masterpiece of confessional poetry, which is characterized by the poet's personal experiences and emotions. In this poem, Sexton explores the power of words and how they can be used to express one's deepest emotions and thoughts.

The poem begins with the line, "You are the bread and the knife." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests that words can be both nourishing and destructive. The poet then goes on to describe the power of words, saying that they can "make or break a heart" and "create or destroy a world."

Sexton's use of language in this poem is both powerful and evocative. She uses vivid imagery to describe the impact of words, saying that they can "burn like a sun" or "freeze like a snowflake." This imagery creates a sense of urgency and intensity, as if the poet is warning the reader about the dangers of using words carelessly.

One of the most striking aspects of this poem is the way in which Sexton uses her own personal experiences to illustrate the power of words. She describes how words have affected her own life, saying that they have "made me a hero" and "made me a fool." This personal touch adds a sense of authenticity to the poem, as if the poet is speaking directly from her own experience.

Sexton also explores the idea that words can be used to create art. She describes how words can be "woven into a tapestry" or "sculpted into a statue." This idea of words as art is a central theme in confessional poetry, as poets often use their own experiences as the raw material for their art.

The poem ends with the line, "You are the poem I never knew how to write." This line is both poignant and powerful, as it suggests that the power of words is so great that they can even create something that the poet herself cannot express. This line also suggests that the poet is in awe of the power of words, and that she recognizes their ability to transcend even the limitations of language.

Overall, Poetry Words is a masterpiece of confessional poetry. Sexton's use of language is both powerful and evocative, and her personal experiences add a sense of authenticity to the poem. The poem explores the power of words in a way that is both profound and deeply moving, and it is a testament to the enduring power of poetry as an art form.

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