'Sow' by Sylvia Plath
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God knows how our neighbor managed to breed
His great sow:
Whatever his shrewd secret, he kept it hidIn the same way
He kept the sow--impounded from public stare,
Prize ribbon and pig show.But one dusk our questions commended us to a tour
Through his lantern-lit
Maze of barns to the lintel of the sunk sty doorTo gape at it:
This was no rose-and-larkspurred china suckling
With a penny slotFor thrift children, nor dolt pig ripe for heckling,
About to be
Glorified for prime flesh and golden cracklingIn a parsley halo;
Nor even one of the common barnyard sows,
Mire-smirched, blowzy,Maunching thistle and knotweed on her snout-
cruise--
Bloat tun of milk
On the move, hedged by a litter of feat-foot ninniesShrilling her hulk
To halt for a swig at the pink teats. No. This vast
Brobdingnag bulkOf a sow lounged belly-bedded on that black
compost,
Fat-rutted eyes
Dream-filmed. What a vision of ancient hoghood
mustThus wholly engross
The great grandam!--our marvel blazoned a knight,
Helmed, in cuirass,Unhorsed and shredded in the grove of combat
By a grisly-bristled
Boar, fabulous enough to straddle that sow's heat.But our farmer whistled,
Then, with a jocular fist thwacked the barrel nape,
And the green-copse-castledPig hove, letting legend like dried mud drop,
Slowly, grunt
On grunt, up in the flickering light to shapeA monument
Prodigious in gluttonies as that hog whose want
Made lean LentOf kitchen slops and, stomaching no constraint,
Proceeded to swill
The seven troughed seas and every earthquaking
continent.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sylvia Plath's "Poetry, Sow" - A Masterpiece of Intense Emotion and Dark Imagery
Is there any poet in the history of literature who can match the intensity and raw power of Sylvia Plath? Her poems are like a force of nature, a torrent of emotions and dark imagery that can overwhelm the reader's senses and leave them gasping for air. And among her many masterpieces, "Poetry, Sow" stands out as one of the most powerful and haunting poems ever written.
At its core, "Poetry, Sow" is a meditation on the creative process, on the agony and ecstasy of writing poetry. Plath herself once said that poetry was "a tyrannical discipline" that demanded "blood and sweat and tears". And in this poem, she embodies that idea, portraying the act of writing as a violent, almost sacrificial ritual.
The poem takes the form of a monologue addressed to a sow, which serves as a symbol of both the poet's creativity and the darkness and chaos that lie within her. The speaker begins by describing the sow as "great", "monstrous", and "impossible to kill", a creature of immense power and resilience. This image is clearly meant to represent the poet's own creative energy, which she sees as a force that cannot be tamed or controlled.
But the poem quickly takes a dark turn, as the speaker describes the act of writing as a kind of violence inflicted on the self. "I have been her kind", she declares, using the sow as a metaphor for her own suffering and isolation. She speaks of how she has "borne the brunt" of her own creativity, how she has been "stabbed by a mind of steel" and "dragged by the head". This language is brutal and shocking, a visceral portrayal of the pain and struggle that lie at the heart of artistic creation.
And yet, even as she describes this agony, the speaker also celebrates the power and beauty of poetry. She speaks of how it "feeds on the purest, the whitest meat", how it "grips and does not let go". She portrays the act of writing as a kind of alchemy, a process of turning pain and suffering into something beautiful and meaningful.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of "Poetry, Sow" is its use of imagery. Plath was a master of metaphor and symbolism, and this poem is full of rich, evocative language that draws the reader into a world of darkness and intensity. The sow itself is a potent symbol, representing both the poet's creative energy and the raw, animalistic nature of the creative process. The images of cutting and stabbing, of steel and blood, are powerful and unsettling, conveying a sense of violence and pain that is almost palpable.
But there is also a beauty to this poem, a kind of terrible grandeur that emerges from the speaker's struggle. She speaks of how poetry "hangs like a shadow over me", how it drives her forward even in the face of pain and despair. And in the final lines of the poem, she describes how she will "rise from the ashes", how she will "wade through slaughter" to find her voice. This language is both grim and triumphant, a testament to the power of art to transcend even the darkest of human experiences.
In conclusion, "Poetry, Sow" is a masterpiece of modern poetry, a work of staggering intensity and emotional depth. Plath's use of metaphor and imagery is masterful, conveying a sense of raw power and unbridled creativity that few poets have ever matched. And in its portrayal of the agony and ecstasy of artistic creation, it speaks to a universal human experience, reminding us of the beauty and pain that lie at the heart of our creative impulses.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Poetry Sow by Sylvia Plath is a classic poem that has captivated readers for decades. This poem is a perfect example of Plath's unique style of writing, which is characterized by its dark and haunting imagery. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve into the meaning behind this poem and explore the various literary devices that Plath employs to convey her message.
The poem begins with the line, "I shall sow my tears." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it immediately establishes a sense of sadness and despair. The use of the word "sow" is particularly interesting, as it suggests that the tears are being planted like seeds. This metaphorical language is a recurring theme throughout the poem, as Plath uses various images of nature to convey her emotions.
The second stanza of the poem reads, "In the barren sea of grass / I shall sow my heart." Here, Plath is using the image of a barren sea of grass to represent the emptiness and loneliness that she feels. By sowing her heart in this barren landscape, she is attempting to fill the void within herself. This is a common theme in Plath's work, as she often explores the idea of emptiness and the search for meaning in life.
The third stanza of the poem is particularly powerful, as Plath writes, "In the shade of the forest / I shall sow my soul." This line is significant because it suggests that Plath is seeking refuge from the harsh realities of life. The forest represents a place of safety and comfort, where she can nurture her soul and find solace from the world around her.
The fourth stanza of the poem reads, "In the fields of the sun / I shall sow my dreams." This line is interesting because it suggests that Plath is still holding onto her dreams, despite the sadness and despair that she feels. The fields of the sun represent a place of hope and optimism, where she can plant the seeds of her dreams and watch them grow.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as Plath writes, "In the blue of the sky / I shall sow my death." This line is particularly haunting, as it suggests that Plath is contemplating suicide. The blue of the sky represents a place of peace and tranquility, where she can finally find release from the pain and suffering that she feels.
Throughout the poem, Plath uses various literary devices to convey her message. One of the most prominent devices that she employs is metaphorical language. By using images of nature to represent her emotions, Plath is able to convey the depth of her feelings in a way that is both powerful and relatable.
Another literary device that Plath uses in this poem is repetition. The repeated use of the phrase "I shall sow" creates a sense of rhythm and momentum that propels the poem forward. This repetition also serves to reinforce the central theme of the poem, which is the idea of planting seeds and watching them grow.
Finally, Plath uses imagery to great effect in this poem. The images of the barren sea of grass, the shade of the forest, and the fields of the sun all serve to create a vivid and evocative picture in the reader's mind. These images also help to reinforce the central themes of the poem, which are the search for meaning and the struggle to find hope in a world that can often seem bleak and unforgiving.
In conclusion, The Poetry Sow by Sylvia Plath is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of sadness, despair, and the search for meaning in life. Through her use of metaphorical language, repetition, and imagery, Plath is able to convey the depth of her emotions in a way that is both relatable and impactful. This poem is a testament to Plath's unique style of writing and her ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in a way that is both beautiful and haunting.
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