'Small Wire' by Anne Sexton
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
My faith
is a great weight
hung on a small wire,
as doth the spider
hang her baby on a thin web,
as doth the vine,
twiggy and wooden,
hold up grapes
like eyeballs,
as many angels
dance on the head of a pin.God does not need
too much wire to keep Him there,
just a thin vein,
with blood pushing back and forth in it,
and some love.
As it has been said:
Love and a cough
cannot be concealed.
Even a small cough.
Even a small love.
So if you have only a thin wire,
God does not mind.
He will enter your hands
as easily as ten cents used to
bring forth a Coke.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Small Wire by Anne Sexton: An Exploration of Death and Existentialism
Anne Sexton, one of the most prominent confessional poets of the 20th century, is known for her bold and unflinching explorations of themes such as mental illness, sexuality, and suicide. Her poem "Small Wire" is a prime example of the dark and intense imagery that characterizes much of her work. In this essay, I will provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of "Small Wire," analyzing its themes, symbolism, and language to explore Sexton's depiction of death and existentialism.
Overview of the Poem
First, let's take a closer look at the poem itself. "Small Wire" is a fifteen-line free verse poem that was first published in Sexton's 1974 collection, The Awful Rowing Toward God. The poem begins with a vivid image:
A small wire hove out of the grass, it was still, it was glowing a little, come and touch it.
Sexton's use of sensory language draws the reader in and creates a sense of curiosity. What is this "small wire" and why is it glowing? The speaker's invitation to "come and touch it" adds to this sense of intrigue, but also hints at a danger lurking beneath the surface.
The second stanza begins to add some context to the image:
It is cold here, there are no doors, there are no windows,
Here, the speaker establishes a sense of isolation and confinement. There are no doors or windows, no way in or out. The setting feels claustrophobic and suffocating.
The third stanza brings another vivid image:
a spider's web flickers from the wire
The spider's web adds to the sense of danger and entrapment. The web is fragile and delicate, yet it holds the potential to ensnare and kill. The image of the web flickering from the wire creates a sense of unease, as if the wire itself is alive and dangerous.
The final stanza brings the poem to its chilling conclusion:
I have lost my way and am frozen on the wire.
Here, the speaker reveals a personal connection to the image. She is lost and frozen, trapped on the wire with no escape. The poem ends abruptly, leaving the reader with a sense of unease and uncertainty.
Themes
Now that we've gone over the structure and content of "Small Wire," let's turn our attention to the themes that Sexton explores in this poem. One of the most prominent themes is death. The opening image of the small wire that is "glowing a little" and the spider's web that flickers from it create a sense of danger and foreboding. The glowing wire could be interpreted as a symbol for life or vitality, while the spider's web represents death or the fragility of life. The speaker's invitation to "come and touch it" could be seen as a dare or a challenge, tempting the reader to test the limits of their mortality.
Another theme explored in "Small Wire" is existentialism. The sense of isolation and confinement created by the lack of doors and windows and the speaker's admission that she has "lost her way" allude to the existentialist idea that we are alone in the world and must create our own meaning in life. The spider's web, which is both fragile and deadly, can be seen as a symbol for the existentialist struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that is both beautiful and terrifying.
Symbolism
Sexton's use of symbolism in "Small Wire" is particularly effective in creating a sense of unease and uncertainty. The small wire itself can be interpreted in a number of ways. It could be a symbol for life or vitality, as mentioned earlier. Alternatively, it could represent the thin line between life and death, or the fragility of our own mortality. The spider's web, as noted earlier, represents both the beauty and terror of existence. It is fragile and delicate, yet it holds the potential to ensnare and kill. The spider's web flickering from the wire creates a sense of unease, as if the wire itself is alive and dangerous.
The lack of doors and windows also serves as a symbol for the existentialist struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that can feel suffocating and claustrophobic. The speaker's admission that she has "lost her way" suggests a sense of confusion and uncertainty about her place in the world.
Language
Finally, let's examine the language that Sexton uses in "Small Wire." Her use of sensory language, particularly in the opening stanza, draws the reader in and creates a sense of curiosity. The repetition of the word "small" emphasizes the fragility and delicacy of the wire, while the phrase "glowing a little" adds a sense of vitality and life.
Sexton's use of short, simple sentences throughout the poem creates a sense of urgency and immediacy. The lack of punctuation in the final line adds to the sense of uncertainty and unease, leaving the reader hanging and unsure of what to expect next.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Anne Sexton's poem "Small Wire" is a powerful exploration of death and existentialism. Through her use of vivid imagery, symbolism, and language, Sexton creates a sense of danger and unease that leaves the reader questioning their own mortality and place in the world. The poem's themes of death and existentialism are particularly relevant in today's world, where the fragility of life is more apparent than ever. Through her poetry, Sexton reminds us of the beauty and terror of existence, and encourages us to confront our fears and find meaning in a world that can sometimes feel suffocating and uncertain.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Small Wire: A Masterpiece by Anne Sexton
Anne Sexton, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is known for her confessional style of writing that delves deep into the human psyche. Her poem, "Poetry Small Wire," is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the creative process and the struggles that come with it. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism in this poem and understand why it is considered one of Sexton's finest works.
The poem begins with the line, "Poetry, a small wire strung with words." This opening line sets the tone for the entire poem, as it establishes the central metaphor of poetry being a "small wire." The use of the word "small" suggests that poetry is delicate and fragile, and the word "wire" implies that it is something that can be manipulated and shaped. The line also suggests that poetry is made up of words, which are strung together like beads on a wire.
The next line reads, "Poetry, a small bird, its wings delicate." Here, Sexton continues the metaphor of poetry being delicate and fragile, comparing it to a small bird with delicate wings. The use of the word "bird" also suggests that poetry is something that can take flight and soar, but it needs to be handled with care.
The third line reads, "Poetry, a dance that is performed on the page." This line introduces a new metaphor, that of poetry being a dance. The use of the word "performed" suggests that poetry is something that is meant to be experienced, not just read. The line also suggests that poetry is a form of art that requires skill and practice, just like a dance.
The fourth line reads, "Poetry, a song that is sung in the mind." This line continues the theme of poetry being a form of art that is experienced, not just read. The use of the word "song" suggests that poetry is something that can be heard, even if it is only in the mind. The line also suggests that poetry is something that can be remembered and recalled, like a song that gets stuck in your head.
The fifth line reads, "Poetry, a dream that is dreamed wide awake." This line introduces a new metaphor, that of poetry being a dream. The use of the phrase "dreamed wide awake" suggests that poetry is something that can transport us to another world, even if we are still awake. The line also suggests that poetry is something that can be surreal and otherworldly, like a dream.
The sixth line reads, "Poetry, a hammer that shatters glass." This line introduces a new metaphor, that of poetry being a hammer. The use of the word "shatters" suggests that poetry is something that can break down barriers and challenge the status quo. The line also suggests that poetry is something that can be powerful and transformative, like a hammer.
The seventh line reads, "Poetry, a fire that burns in the soul." This line introduces a new metaphor, that of poetry being a fire. The use of the phrase "burns in the soul" suggests that poetry is something that can ignite passion and emotion within us. The line also suggests that poetry is something that can be intense and all-consuming, like a fire.
The eighth and final line reads, "Poetry, a light that shines in the darkness." This line introduces a new metaphor, that of poetry being a light. The use of the phrase "shines in the darkness" suggests that poetry is something that can bring hope and illumination to even the darkest of situations. The line also suggests that poetry is something that can be enlightening and illuminating, like a light.
Throughout the poem, Sexton uses a variety of metaphors to describe poetry, each one building on the previous one to create a rich and complex portrait of this art form. The use of metaphors also allows Sexton to explore the different facets of poetry, from its delicate and fragile nature to its powerful and transformative potential.
In addition to the use of metaphors, Sexton also employs vivid imagery to bring her metaphors to life. For example, in the line "Poetry, a small bird, its wings delicate," the image of a small bird with delicate wings conjures up a sense of fragility and vulnerability. Similarly, in the line "Poetry, a hammer that shatters glass," the image of a hammer breaking glass creates a sense of power and force.
Sexton also uses symbolism throughout the poem to further explore the themes of poetry. For example, the use of the word "wire" in the opening line can be seen as a symbol of the structure and form that poetry requires. Similarly, the use of the word "fire" can be seen as a symbol of the passion and intensity that poetry can evoke.
Overall, "Poetry Small Wire" is a masterful poem that explores the many facets of poetry through the use of metaphors, imagery, and symbolism. Sexton's use of language is both evocative and powerful, creating a sense of wonder and excitement around the art of poetry. This poem is a testament to Sexton's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the essence of the human experience in her writing.
Editor Recommended Sites
Prompt Catalog: Catalog of prompts for specific use cases. For chatGPT, bard / palm, llama alpaca modelsDatabase Migration - CDC resources for Oracle, Postgresql, MSQL, Bigquery, Redshift: Resources for migration of different SQL databases on-prem or multi cloud
ML SQL: Machine Learning from SQL like in Bigquery SQL and PostgresML. SQL generative large language model generation
Kids Games: Online kids dev games
Software Engineering Developer Anti-Patterns. Code antipatterns & Software Engineer mistakes: Programming antipatterns, learn what not to do. Lists of anti-patterns to avoid & Top mistakes devs make
Recommended Similar Analysis
Love's Usury by John Donne analysisThe Little Dog's Day by Rupert Brooke analysis
I Like For You To Be Still by Pablo Neruda analysis
Sonnet 75 by Edmund Spenser analysis
Quiet Girl by Langston Hughes analysis
The Lamb by William Blake analysis
Balloons by Sylvia Plath analysis
Morte D'Arthur by Alfred, Lord Tennyson analysis
On My First Son by Ben Jonson analysis
The Weary Blues by Langston Hughes analysis