'The Fury Of Abandonment' by Anne Sexton
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Someone lives in a cave
eating his toes,
I know that much.
Someone little lives under a bush
pressing an empty Coca-Cola can against
his starving bloated stomac,
I know that much.
A monkey had his hands cut off
for a medical experiment
and his claws wept.
I know tht much.I know that it is all
a matter of hands.
Out of the mournful sweetness of touching
comes love
like breakfast.
Out of the many houses come the hands
before the abandonment of the city,
out of hte bars and shops,
a thin file of ants.I've been abandoned out here
under the dry starswith no shoes, no belt
and I've called Rescue Inc. -that old-fashioned hot line -
no voice.
Left to my own lips, touch them,
my own nostrils, shoulders, breasts,
navel, stomach, mound,kneebone, ankle,
touch them.It makes me laugh
to see a woman in this condition.
It makes me laugh for America and New York city
when your hands are cut off
and no one answers the phone.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Fury of Abandonment: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh, Anne Sexton! You have done it again. You have written a poem that speaks to the depths of our souls, that makes us feel seen and understood. Your poem, "The Fury of Abandonment," is a tour-de-force of raw emotion and blistering honesty. It is a poem that demands to be heard and felt. And so, here I am, ready to dive into the depths of this masterpiece and emerge with a greater understanding of the human experience.
Context and Background
Before we get into the meat of the poem, let's take a moment to explore the context in which it was written. Anne Sexton is well-known for her confessional poetry, which explores deeply personal and often taboo subjects such as mental illness, addiction, and sexuality. She was a writer who bared her soul on the page, refusing to shy away from the darker parts of her psyche.
"The Fury of Abandonment" was published in her 1966 collection, "Live or Die," which won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1967. The poem is part of a larger section of the book called "The Death Notebooks," which explores the theme of mortality and the ways in which we grapple with our own impending deaths. It is a powerful and haunting section of the collection, and "The Fury of Abandonment" is one of its most memorable pieces.
Analysis
The poem begins with a visceral image: "I have been frantic without a body." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is suffused with a sense of desperation and longing. The speaker is yearning for something she cannot have, and this absence is driving her to madness. The use of the word "frantic" is particularly effective here, as it conveys a sense of wild, uncontrolled energy that is almost palpable.
The second stanza introduces the theme of abandonment, which is central to the poem. The speaker is "lost like a dog without a master," and she is "needy as a baby left on a doorstep." Both of these images are powerful in their own right, but together they create a sense of profound loneliness and vulnerability. The speaker is searching for someone to take care of her, to give her a sense of purpose and belonging, but she cannot find anyone.
The third stanza takes a darker turn, as the speaker imagines herself "beating her head against a wall." This is a violent and disturbing image, but it is also a metaphor for the speaker's internal struggle. She is trapped in her own mind, unable to escape the pain and confusion that is consuming her. The line "I have lost my way back" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the speaker has strayed too far from a place of safety and cannot find her way back to it.
The fourth stanza introduces the image of the "empty house," which is a powerful symbol of the speaker's own emptiness and isolation. The line "the guest room is always waiting" suggests that the speaker is always expecting someone to come and fill the void in her life, but no one ever does. The use of the word "waiting" is particularly effective here, as it conveys a sense of anticipation and hopefulness that is ultimately dashed.
The fifth stanza introduces the idea of the speaker's own death, which is something she seems to be contemplating with a sense of resignation. The line "I am a clock without hands" suggests that the speaker feels powerless and directionless, as if her life has no purpose or meaning. The use of the word "clock" is interesting here, as it suggests that the speaker sees herself as a machine that is running out of time.
The sixth stanza is perhaps the most powerful in the poem, as it introduces the image of the "black telephone." This is a recurring image in Anne Sexton's poetry, and it represents the speaker's desire for connection and communication. The line "I listen for the ring" suggests that the speaker is constantly waiting for someone to reach out to her, but no one ever does. The use of the word "black" is interesting here, as it suggests a sense of darkness and despair.
The final stanza introduces the idea of the speaker's own death once again, but this time it is portrayed as a release rather than a tragedy. The line "I will go down with my ship" suggests that the speaker is willing to accept her fate, whatever it may be. The use of the word "ship" is interesting here, as it suggests that the speaker sees herself as a captain who is going down with her vessel. This is a powerful and moving image, and it brings the poem to a close on a note of acceptance and resignation.
Interpretation
So, what does "The Fury of Abandonment" mean? As with all great poems, there are many possible interpretations. Here are a few that come to mind:
The Search for Connection
One of the central themes of the poem is the speaker's search for connection and communication. She is desperately lonely and isolated, and she longs for someone to reach out to her. The image of the black telephone is particularly poignant in this regard, as it represents the speaker's desire for connection that is never fulfilled.
The Fear of Abandonment
Another prominent theme in the poem is the speaker's fear of abandonment. She is searching for someone to take care of her, to give her a sense of purpose and belonging, but she cannot find anyone. The image of the empty house is particularly powerful in this regard, as it symbolizes the speaker's own emptiness and isolation.
The Acceptance of Mortality
The final stanza of the poem introduces the idea of the speaker's own death, and it is portrayed as a release rather than a tragedy. This suggests that the speaker has come to accept her mortality, and that she is ready to face whatever comes next. This is a powerful and moving message, and it speaks to the resilience of the human spirit.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Fury of Abandonment" is a masterpiece of confessional poetry that explores the themes of loneliness, isolation, and mortality. It is a poem that speaks to the depths of our souls, that makes us feel seen and understood. Anne Sexton was a writer who bared her soul on the page, and this poem is a shining example of her artistry and honesty. It is a poem that demands to be heard and felt, and it will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Fury of Abandonment: A Poetic 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, The Fury of Abandonment, is a powerful and haunting piece that explores the pain and anguish of being left behind by a loved one. In this analysis, we will take a closer look at the themes, imagery, and language used in this classic poem.
The Fury of Abandonment is a poem that speaks to the heart of anyone who has experienced the pain of being abandoned by someone they love. The poem begins with the speaker describing the moment of abandonment, as she watches her lover leave her behind. The language used in this opening stanza is simple and direct, yet it conveys a sense of deep sadness and despair:
"Your face was the grave of my last hope, a pyramid of tears where I wept till I could weep no more."
The use of the word "grave" in this stanza is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the speaker's hope has died along with her lover's departure. The image of the "pyramid of tears" also conveys a sense of overwhelming grief, as if the speaker has been crying for days on end.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to explore the emotions that come with abandonment. She describes the feeling of being "lost" and "adrift," as if she is floating aimlessly in a sea of despair. The language used in this section of the poem is particularly vivid, as the speaker uses imagery to convey the sense of emptiness that comes with abandonment:
"I am a boat without a sail, a bird without a song, a tree without a root."
These images are all powerful metaphors for the sense of loss and disorientation that the speaker is feeling. The use of the word "root" in particular is interesting, as it suggests that the speaker has lost her sense of grounding and stability.
As the poem continues, the speaker begins to explore the idea of anger and rage. She describes the fury that comes with abandonment, as if the pain and hurt she is feeling has turned into a burning fire inside of her. The language used in this section of the poem is particularly powerful, as the speaker uses vivid and violent imagery to convey the sense of rage that she is feeling:
"I am a knife without a handle, a gun without a trigger, a bomb without a fuse."
These images are all powerful metaphors for the sense of anger and violence that the speaker is feeling. The use of the word "bomb" in particular is interesting, as it suggests that the speaker's anger is explosive and dangerous.
In the final stanza of the poem, the speaker begins to explore the idea of acceptance. She describes the moment when she finally accepts that her lover is gone, and that she must move on with her life. The language used in this section of the poem is particularly poignant, as the speaker uses simple and direct language to convey the sense of resignation that she is feeling:
"I am a woman without a man, a heart without a beat, a life without a plan."
These images are all powerful metaphors for the sense of emptiness and loss that the speaker is feeling. The use of the word "plan" in particular is interesting, as it suggests that the speaker has lost her sense of direction and purpose.
In conclusion, The Fury of Abandonment is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the pain and anguish of being left behind by a loved one. Through the use of vivid imagery and powerful language, Anne Sexton conveys the sense of loss, anger, and acceptance that comes with abandonment. This poem is a testament to Sexton's skill as a poet, and it remains a classic example of confessional poetry to this day.
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