'The Touch' by Anne Sexton


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For months my hand was sealed off
in a tin box. Nothing was there but the subway railings.
Perhaps it is bruised, I thought,
and that is why they have locked it up.
You could tell time by this, I thought,
like a clock, by its five knuckles
and the thin underground veins.
It lay there like an unconscious woman
fed by tubes she knew not of.

The hand had collapse,
a small wood pigeon
that had gone into seclusion.
I turned it over and the palm was old,
its lines traced like fine needlepoint
and stitched up into fingers.
It was fat and soft and blind in places.
Nothing but vulnerable.

And all this is metaphor.
An ordinary hand -- just lonely
for something to touch
that touches back.
The dog won't do it.
Her tail wags in the swamp for a frog.
I'm no better than a case of dog food.
She owns her own hunger.
My sisters won't do it.
They live in school except for buttons
and tears running down like lemonade.
My father won't do it.
He comes in the house and even at night
he lives in a machine made by my mother
and well oiled by his job, his job.

The trouble is
that I'd let my gestures freeze.
The trouble was not
in the kitchen or the tulips
but only in my head, my head.

Then all this became history.
Your hand found mine.
Life rushed to my fingers like a blood clot.
Oh, my carpenter,
the fingers are rebuilt.
They dance with yours.
They dance in the attic and in Vienna.
My hand is alive all over America.
Not even death will stop it,
death shedding her blood.
Nothing will stop it, for this is the kingdom
and the kingdom come.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Touch by Anne Sexton: A Wrenching Account of Love and Loss

The Touch, a poem written by Anne Sexton, is a wrenching account of love and loss that has left many readers feeling raw and exposed. With its vivid imagery and raw emotion, The Touch has become one of Sexton's most beloved and enduring works.

The Poem

The Touch is a poem that explores the theme of love and loss. The poem is divided into three parts, each of which explores a different aspect of this theme.

The first part of the poem describes the experience of falling in love. Sexton describes the physical sensations of falling in love, from the way the lover's breath feels on the skin to the rush of blood through the body. The poem is full of vivid sensory details that bring the experience of falling in love to life.

The second part of the poem explores the pain of loss. Sexton vividly describes the feeling of loss, from the physical pain of a broken heart to the emotional pain of losing someone you love. The poem is full of raw, emotional language that conveys the depth of the pain the speaker is feeling.

The final part of the poem explores the possibility of finding love again after loss. Sexton describes the hope and excitement of finding a new love, but also acknowledges the fear and uncertainty that come with opening yourself up to love again.

Literary Criticism and Interpretation

The Touch is a deeply personal and emotional poem that speaks to the universal experience of love and loss. Sexton's use of vivid sensory details and raw emotion create a powerful and moving portrait of the human heart.

One of the most striking aspects of The Touch is the way it captures the physical sensations of falling in love. Sexton's use of sensory details such as the lover's breath on the skin and the rush of blood through the body create a visceral sense of what it feels like to be in love. This attention to physical sensation creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy that draws the reader in and makes them feel as if they are experiencing the emotions of the speaker themselves.

Another key aspect of The Touch is the intense emotional language Sexton uses to describe the pain of loss. The poem is full of raw, unfiltered emotion that conveys the depth of the speaker's pain. Sexton's use of language such as "the agony of not touching" and "the wound that never heals" creates a sense of the speaker's desperation and hopelessness in the face of loss.

In the final part of the poem, Sexton explores the possibility of finding love again after loss. The poem acknowledges the fear and uncertainty that come with opening yourself up to love again, but also celebrates the hope and excitement of finding a new love. This final section of the poem is full of contradictions and ambivalence, reflecting the complexity of the speaker's emotions as she contemplates the possibility of love after loss.

Overall, The Touch is a deeply moving and powerful poem that speaks to the universal human experience of love and loss. Sexton's use of vivid sensory details and raw emotional language creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy that draws the reader in and makes them feel as if they are experiencing the emotions of the speaker themselves. The poem's exploration of the possibility of love after loss is both hopeful and ambivalent, reflecting the complexity of the human heart.

Conclusion

In conclusion, The Touch by Anne Sexton is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the universal human experience of love and loss. Sexton's use of vivid sensory details and raw emotional language create a sense of intimacy and immediacy that draws the reader in and makes them feel as if they are experiencing the emotions of the speaker themselves. The poem's exploration of the possibility of love after loss is both hopeful and ambivalent, reflecting the complexity of the human heart. The Touch is a timeless work of art that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Touch: A Poem of Sensuality and Intimacy

Anne Sexton's poem, The Touch, is a masterpiece of sensuality and intimacy. It is a poem that explores the depths of human desire and the power of touch. The poem is a celebration of the physical and emotional connection between two people, and it captures the essence of what it means to be truly intimate with another person.

The poem begins with a simple statement: "You touched me." This simple statement sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a series of reflections on the power of touch. The speaker of the poem is clearly moved by the touch of the other person, and she is trying to capture the essence of that experience in words.

The first stanza of the poem is a description of the physical sensation of touch. The speaker describes the sensation of the other person's hand on her skin, and she compares it to the sensation of a bird's wing brushing against her cheek. This comparison is significant because it suggests that the touch of the other person is light and delicate, but also powerful and transformative.

The second stanza of the poem is a reflection on the emotional impact of touch. The speaker describes how the touch of the other person has awakened something inside of her, something that she didn't even know was there. She describes the sensation as a "shock of recognition," and she suggests that the touch of the other person has opened up a new world of possibility for her.

The third stanza of the poem is a meditation on the power of touch to heal and transform. The speaker describes how the touch of the other person has healed her wounds and transformed her into a new person. She suggests that the touch of the other person has the power to heal not just physical wounds, but emotional wounds as well.

The fourth stanza of the poem is a reflection on the nature of intimacy. The speaker suggests that true intimacy is not just about physical contact, but about emotional connection as well. She describes how the touch of the other person has created a deep emotional connection between them, and she suggests that this connection is what makes their relationship truly intimate.

The final stanza of the poem is a celebration of the power of touch. The speaker suggests that the touch of the other person has transformed her life in ways that she never thought possible. She describes how the touch of the other person has opened up a new world of possibility for her, and she suggests that this is the true power of touch.

Overall, The Touch is a powerful and moving poem that explores the depths of human desire and the power of touch. It is a poem that celebrates the physical and emotional connection between two people, and it captures the essence of what it means to be truly intimate with another person. Anne Sexton's use of language is masterful, and she captures the complex emotions and sensations of touch with remarkable clarity and precision. The Touch is a timeless poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

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