'The Ambition Bird' by Anne Sexton
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So it has come to this
insomnia at 3:15 A.M.,
the clock tolling its engine
like a frog following
a sundial yet having an electric
seizure at the quarter hour.
The business of words keeps me awake.
I am drinking cocoa,
that warm brown mama.
I would like a simple life
yet all night I am laying
poems away in a long box.
It is my immortality box,
my lay-away plan,
my coffin.
All night dark wings
flopping in my heart.
Each an ambition bird.
The bird wants to be dropped
from a high place like Tallahatchie Bridge.
He wants to light a kitchen match
and immolate himself.
He wants to fly into the hand of Michelangelo
anc dome out painted on a ceiling.
He wants to pierce the hornet's nest
and come out with a long godhead.
He wants to take bread and wine
and bring forth a man happily floating in the Caribbean.
He wants to be pressed out like a key
so he can unlock the Magi.
He wants to take leave among strangers
passing out bits of his heart like hors d'oeuvres.
He wants to die changing his clothes
and bolt for the sun like a diamond.
He wants, I want.
Dear God, wouldn't it be
good enough to just drink cocoa?
I must get a new bird
and a new immortality box.
There is folly enough inside this one.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Ambition Bird by Anne Sexton: A Critical Analysis
Poetry is a language that speaks to the soul. It is a form of art that requires the poet to pour out their thoughts and feelings into words that carry deep meaning. Anne Sexton's poem, "The Ambition Bird," is a perfect example of this. This masterpiece is a reflection of the human desire to achieve greatness, and the sacrifices that come with it. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the themes, symbols, and literary devices used in this poem, and their significance in the message of the poem.
Theme
The theme of "The Ambition Bird" is ambition, and the price that one pays for it. Sexton explores the idea that ambition is a double-edged sword that can give you wings to fly but can also lead to your downfall. The poem highlights the struggle and sacrifices that come with chasing after one's dreams, and the toll it can take on a person's mental and emotional well-being.
Sexton uses the metaphor of a bird to represent ambition. The bird is a symbol of freedom, flight, and the soaring heights one can reach. However, it is also a symbol of vulnerability and the danger of falling. The bird's ambition to soar higher and higher represents the human desire to achieve greatness, but it also represents the fear of failure and the consequences that come with it.
Structure and Literary Devices
"The Ambition Bird" is a poem with a simple structure consisting of four stanzas, each with five lines. The poem follows a free verse form with no rhyme scheme. The poem's simplicity is in stark contrast to the complexity of the themes and symbols it conveys.
Sexton uses several literary devices to convey the message of the poem. She uses imagery to paint a vivid picture of the bird's journey and the world around it. The use of enjambment gives the poem a sense of momentum, mirroring the bird's ascent towards its goal.
The poem is rich in metaphors and symbolism. The bird represents ambition, while the sky represents the limitless possibilities of achieving one's dreams. The bird's wings represent the tools that one needs to achieve their ambitions, while the sun represents the light that illuminates the path towards success.
Interpretation
The opening stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The bird is introduced as an "ambition bird" that is "perched" on a tree. The use of the word "perched" gives the impression of a bird that is restless and eager to take flight. The bird's "talons" are described as "naked," suggesting vulnerability and the danger of falling.
In the second stanza, the bird takes flight, and the imagery used to describe its ascent is breathtaking. The bird is described as "swooping" and "gliding" with "wings pumping." The use of the present participle verbs gives the poem a sense of momentum, as if the bird is in constant motion towards its goal. The bird's ascent towards the sun represents the human desire to achieve greatness and the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.
The third stanza is where the poem's tone shifts. The bird's journey towards the sun becomes more perilous as it flies higher and higher. The bird's "lungs begin to crow" indicates the strain of the journey, and the "sun bites" symbolizes the sacrifices that come with ambition. The bird's "eyes turn bleached skulls" suggests the toll that ambition can take on a person's mental and emotional well-being.
The final stanza of the poem is the most powerful. The bird's journey comes to an abrupt end as it crashes into the sun. The use of the word "smoldering" suggests that the bird has been burnt out by its own ambition. The line "such a fancy-dress of ashes!" is a powerful metaphor that suggests that the bird's dreams and ambitions have been reduced to nothing but ashes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Ambition Bird" is a powerful poem that explores the human desire for success and the sacrifices that come with it. Sexton uses the metaphor of a bird to represent ambition, and the bird's journey towards the sun represents the human desire to achieve greatness. The poem's simple structure and use of literary devices make it easy to read, but the complexity of the themes and symbols it conveys make it a masterpiece. Sexton's message is clear - ambition can give you wings to fly, but it can also lead to your downfall. The poem serves as a warning to those who chase after their dreams without considering the price they may have to pay.
Thus, "The Ambition Bird" is a poem that deserves to be read and understood by anyone who has ever had a dream or ambition. It teaches us to be mindful of the sacrifices we make in pursuit of our goals and to be careful not to burn out like the bird that crashed into the sun. It is a poem that speaks to the soul and reminds us of the power of poetry to convey deep meaning and truths about the human condition.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Ambition Bird: A Poem of Self-Discovery and Empowerment
Anne Sexton's The Ambition Bird is a classic poem that speaks to the human desire for self-discovery and empowerment. The poem is a journey of self-exploration, where the speaker, through the metaphor of a bird, discovers her own ambition and the power to pursue it. The poem is a powerful reminder of the importance of self-discovery and the need to embrace our own ambitions, no matter how daunting they may seem.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the "ambition bird" as a creature that "flies with a stiff / ruffled wing / while the other birds / wait in theircage." The bird is a symbol of the speaker's own ambition, which she sees as something that sets her apart from others. The bird's stiff, ruffled wing represents the speaker's own determination and resilience, which she needs to pursue her ambitions.
The speaker then goes on to describe the bird's journey, as it "flies past / all the soft pale things / and turns to look at them / and flies on." The soft, pale things represent the speaker's own fears and doubts, which she must overcome in order to pursue her ambitions. The bird's ability to fly past these things represents the speaker's own determination to overcome her fears and doubts and pursue her ambitions.
The speaker then describes the bird's destination, a place "where the sun burns / and the moon is clean / where the birds fly backwards / and the trees are square." This place represents the speaker's own vision of success, a place where she can achieve her ambitions and be free from the constraints of society. The backwards-flying birds and square trees represent the speaker's own unique vision of success, which may be different from what others consider to be success.
The poem then takes a turn, as the speaker acknowledges the challenges that come with pursuing one's ambitions. She describes the bird's "hard beak / and the branch notched with death" as symbols of the challenges and obstacles that the speaker must overcome in order to achieve her ambitions. The "branch notched with death" represents the risks and dangers that come with pursuing one's ambitions, while the bird's hard beak represents the speaker's own determination to overcome these challenges.
The speaker then acknowledges the sacrifices that must be made in order to pursue one's ambitions. She describes the bird's "feathers smelling of sage" as a symbol of the sacrifices that the speaker must make in order to achieve her ambitions. The sage represents the speaker's own willingness to give up comfort and security in order to pursue her ambitions.
The poem ends with the speaker acknowledging the importance of pursuing one's ambitions, no matter how daunting they may seem. She describes the bird as "a small thing / to want wings / to fly / while the rest of us / walk on foot." The bird's wings represent the speaker's own ambition, which may seem small and insignificant to others, but is essential to her own sense of self-worth and fulfillment.
In conclusion, The Ambition Bird is a powerful poem that speaks to the human desire for self-discovery and empowerment. The poem is a journey of self-exploration, where the speaker discovers her own ambition and the power to pursue it. The poem is a reminder of the importance of self-discovery and the need to embrace our own ambitions, no matter how daunting they may seem. The poem encourages us to overcome our fears and doubts, to take risks and make sacrifices, and to pursue our own unique vision of success. The Ambition Bird is a timeless poem that will continue to inspire and empower readers for generations to come.
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