'For John, Who Begs Me Not To Enquire Further' by Anne Sexton

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Not that it was beautiful,
but that, in the end, there was
a certain sense of order there;
something worth learning
in that narrow diary of my mind,
in the commonplaces of the asylum
where the cracked mirror
or my own selfish death
outstared me.
And if I tried
to give you something else,
something outside of myself,
you would not know
that the worst of anyone
can be, finally,
an accident of hope.
I tapped my own head;
it was a glass, an inverted bowl.
It is a small thing
to rage in your own bowl.
At first it was private.
Then it was more than myself;
it was you, or your house
or your kitchen.
And if you turn away
because there is no lesson here
I will hold my awkward bowl,
with all its cracked stars shining
like a complicated lie,
and fasten a new skin around it
as if I were dressing an orange
or a strange sun.
Not that it was beautiful,
but that I found some order there.
There ought to be something special
for someone
in this kind of hope.
This is something I would never find
in a lovelier place, my dear,
although your fear is anyone's fear,
like an invisible veil between us all...
and sometimes in private,
my kitchen, your kitchen,
my face, your face.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, For John, Who Begs Me Not To Enquire Further by Anne Sexton

As a literary critic, I am always on the lookout for poetry that challenges the norm, that pushes the boundaries and makes me question everything I thought I knew about the art form. Anne Sexton's "Poetry, For John, Who Begs Me Not To Enquire Further" is one such poem that left me stunned and speechless.

At first glance, the poem seems to be a simple conversation between two lovers - John and the speaker. The title of the poem itself gives us a clue that John is begging the speaker not to enquire further about something. The poem itself is divided into three stanzas, each comprising six lines. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem.

Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song,
A medley of extemporanea;
And love is a thing that can never go wrong;
And I am Marie of Romania.

These four lines seem to be an affirmation of life and love. The speaker seems to be celebrating life and all its joys. The reference to Marie of Romania seems to be a nod to the fact that she was a queen who faced many challenges during her reign but still managed to keep her head held high. But there is a sense of irony in these lines as well. The use of the word "extemporanea" seems to suggest that life is not always planned and that we have to make the best of what we have. The use of the word "glorious" also seems to be an exaggeration, as life is not always joyous and happy.

The second stanza is where the poem really takes a turn.

And what if I loved you a little?
What if I held you close and kissed you softly?
What if I whispered in your ear and told you
all the things I've been dying to say?
Would you run away?

The sudden shift from the celebration of life to the questioning of love is jarring. The speaker seems to be addressing John directly, asking him what would happen if she were to express her love. The use of the word "little" seems to suggest that the love the speaker feels for John is not all-consuming, but just a small part of her. The use of the conditional tense in the following lines heightens the sense of uncertainty and fear. The speaker seems to be afraid that if she were to express her love, John would run away.

The third and final stanza is where the poem reaches its climax.

But what if I loved you a lot?
What if I told you that you are the sun in my sky,
the butter on my bread,
the very air I breathe?
Would you stay then?

The use of the word "but" at the beginning of this stanza seems to suggest that the speaker is building up to something. The sudden switch from "a little" to "a lot" seems to indicate that the speaker's love for John has grown. The use of metaphors in the following lines further cements the depth of her feelings. John is not just someone she loves a little, but the very air she breathes. The question "Would you stay then?" seems to be a desperate plea for John to acknowledge her love for him.

But the most striking aspect of this poem is the way Anne Sexton subverts the traditional love poem. In most love poems, the speaker expresses their love openly and unabashedly. But in "Poetry, For John, Who Begs Me Not To Enquire Further," the speaker is afraid to express her love. She is afraid of being rejected. This fear is something that many people can relate to, making the poem all the more poignant.

The poem is also a commentary on the power dynamic between men and women in relationships. The fact that John is begging the speaker not to enquire further seems to suggest that he holds the power in the relationship. The speaker's fear of expressing her love seems to be rooted in the fact that she is afraid of losing the little power she has.

In conclusion, "Poetry, For John, Who Begs Me Not To Enquire Further" is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It subverts the traditional love poem and offers a commentary on power dynamics in relationships. Anne Sexton's use of metaphors and the conditional tense heightens the sense of uncertainty and fear, and the final question "Would you stay then?" is a poignant plea for acknowledgment and acceptance. This poem is a must-read for anyone who loves poetry that challenges the norm and makes us question our assumptions about love and relationships.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry For John, Who Begs Me Not To Enquire Further: A Deep Dive into Anne Sexton's Masterpiece

Anne Sexton is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for her confessional style and raw honesty in her works. One of her most famous poems, Poetry For John, Who Begs Me Not To Enquire Further, is a masterpiece that delves deep into the complexities of human relationships and the struggles of the human psyche. In this article, we will take a detailed look at this poem and explore its themes, symbolism, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing John, who begs her not to inquire further into his life. The speaker then goes on to describe the various aspects of John's life that she is curious about, including his childhood, his relationships, and his innermost thoughts and feelings. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of John's life.

The first stanza focuses on John's childhood and his relationship with his mother. The speaker describes how John's mother used to dress him up in a sailor suit and take him to the park, where he would ride on the swings and play with other children. However, the speaker also hints at a darker side to John's childhood, suggesting that there may have been some kind of abuse or trauma that he experienced. She says, "I know there was something under your sailor suit / that made you cry out as if you had no tongue."

The second stanza explores John's relationships with women. The speaker describes how John has been with many women, but none of them have been able to satisfy him. She says, "You have loved so many women and still do, / but I love only you." The speaker's love for John is unrequited, and she seems to be struggling with the fact that he is unable to commit to one woman.

The third stanza delves into John's innermost thoughts and feelings. The speaker describes how John is haunted by his past and is unable to let go of his pain. She says, "You are a haunted house / of mirrors." The speaker also suggests that John may be struggling with mental illness, saying, "You have the eyes of a man / who has been in bed for a week."

The final stanza is perhaps the most powerful of the poem. The speaker addresses John directly, telling him that she knows he is afraid of her and of what she represents. She says, "You are afraid of me, / and I of you." The speaker seems to be suggesting that John is afraid of the truth, of confronting his own demons and facing his own pain. She also seems to be suggesting that she represents this truth, and that John is afraid of what she might reveal.

Throughout the poem, Sexton uses a variety of literary devices to convey her message. One of the most striking is her use of symbolism. The sailor suit that John wore as a child is a powerful symbol of innocence and childhood, but it is also a symbol of the darker side of his past. The haunted house of mirrors is another powerful symbol, representing the complexity of John's inner world and the way in which he is haunted by his own thoughts and feelings.

Sexton also uses repetition to great effect in the poem. The phrase "I know" is repeated several times throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker's knowledge of John's life and her desire to understand him better. The repetition of the phrase "You are afraid of me" in the final stanza also emphasizes the speaker's understanding of John's fear and her desire to help him overcome it.

Another important literary device that Sexton uses in the poem is imagery. The image of John riding on the swings in his sailor suit is a powerful one, evoking a sense of innocence and joy. The image of the haunted house of mirrors is also very vivid, conjuring up a sense of confusion and disorientation.

In conclusion, Poetry For John, Who Begs Me Not To Enquire Further is a powerful and deeply moving poem that explores the complexities of human relationships and the struggles of the human psyche. Through her use of symbolism, repetition, and imagery, Sexton conveys a message of understanding and compassion for those who are struggling with their own pain and fear. 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.

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