'Again And Again And Again' by Anne Sexton

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You said the anger would come back

just as the love did.

I have a black look I do not

like. It is a mask I try on.

I migrate toward it and its frog

sits on my lips and defecates.

It is old. It is also a pauper.

I have tried to keep it on a diet.

I give it no unction.

There is a good look that I wear

like a blood clot. I have

sewn it over my left breast.

I have made a vocation of it.

Lust has taken plant in it

and I have placed you and your

child at its milk tip.

Oh the blackness is murderous

and the milk tip is brimming

and each machine is working

and I will kiss you when

I cut up one dozen new men

and you will die somewhat,

again and again.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Again And Again And Again: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Anne Sexton's "Again And Again And Again" is a poem that is often described as a self-portrait, a confessional poem that encapsulates the poet's struggles with mental illness and addiction. But it is also a poem that defies easy interpretation, a work that is both intensely personal and universal, both raw and refined.

At its core, "Again And Again And Again" is a poem about repetition, about the cycles of life and death, love and loss, joy and despair. It is a poem that takes the reader on a journey through the poet's psyche, through the various stages of her life, and through the themes that she grappled with throughout her career.

Form and Structure

One of the most striking features of "Again And Again And Again" is its form and structure. The poem is composed of 16 stanzas, each consisting of three lines, with a total of 48 lines. The brevity of the stanzas and the repetition of the title phrase create a sense of circularity, of a cycle that is constantly repeating itself.

The poem is composed in free verse, with no set meter or rhyme scheme. This freedom allows Sexton to explore a range of emotions and themes without being constrained by traditional poetic forms. The lack of rhyme also creates a sense of instability and unpredictability, mirroring the turmoil of the poet's inner world.

Themes and Motifs

The central motif of "Again And Again And Again" is repetition. The title phrase is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of circularity and rhythm that is both hypnotic and unsettling. The repetition also underscores the theme of cycles, of life and death, love and loss, joy and despair.

Another key motif in the poem is the image of the moon. The moon appears repeatedly throughout the poem, sometimes as a symbol of hope and beauty, sometimes as a symbol of darkness and despair. The moon represents the cyclical nature of life, the constant ebb and flow of emotions and experiences.

The poem also explores themes of mental illness, addiction, and self-destruction. Sexton was open about her struggles with depression and alcoholism, and these themes are present throughout her work. In "Again And Again And Again," the poet describes her own struggles with addiction and self-destructive behavior, painting a stark picture of the toll it takes on her life and relationships.

Interpretation

"Again And Again And Again" is a complex and layered poem that defies easy interpretation. At its core, the poem is about the cyclical nature of life, the way that we are constantly moving through cycles of joy and despair, love and loss, life and death.

The repetition of the title phrase creates a sense of circularity and rhythm that is both soothing and unsettling. It is a reminder that life is constantly moving forward, even as we are caught in the cycles of our own experiences.

The moon is another important symbol in the poem, representing the cyclical nature of life and the way that our emotions and experiences wax and wane like the phases of the moon. Sometimes the moon is a symbol of hope and beauty, a reminder that even in the midst of darkness, there is light. But at other times, the moon is a symbol of darkness and despair, a reminder of the way that our own emotions can be cyclical and unpredictable.

Ultimately, "Again And Again And Again" is a poem about the human condition, about the way that we are all caught in cycles of our own making. It is a reminder that life is both beautiful and painful, that we are both light and dark, and that the only constant is change.

Conclusion

Anne Sexton's "Again And Again And Again" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the cyclical nature of life and the human condition. Through the repetition of the title phrase and the image of the moon, Sexton creates a sense of circularity and rhythm that is both hypnotic and unsettling. The poem is a reminder that life is both beautiful and painful, that we are both light and dark, and that the only constant is change.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Again and Again and Again: A Poetic Exploration of Life and Death

Anne Sexton’s poem “Again and Again and Again” is a haunting and powerful meditation on the cyclical nature of life and death. Through vivid imagery and a relentless repetition of key phrases, Sexton explores the ways in which we are all caught up in a never-ending cycle of birth, growth, decay, and eventual death. At the same time, however, the poem suggests that there is a kind of beauty and grace in this cycle, and that even in the midst of our darkest moments, there is always the possibility of renewal and rebirth.

The poem begins with a stark and simple statement: “This is the cycle of life: / again and again and again.” This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is characterized by a kind of relentless repetition and circularity. Throughout the poem, Sexton returns again and again to the same phrases and images, creating a sense of inevitability and inevitability that is both comforting and unsettling.

One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of growth and decay. Sexton uses a series of vivid and often disturbing images to convey the sense of constant change and transformation that characterizes life. For example, she writes:

“the seed opens in darkness and it closes in darkness and in between it grows”

This image of the seed growing in darkness is a powerful metaphor for the way in which life emerges from the darkness of the unknown. At the same time, however, the image also suggests that growth is always accompanied by a kind of decay or loss. The seed must close in darkness in order to grow, and in doing so, it must let go of something essential.

Another key theme of the poem is the idea of death and rebirth. Sexton suggests that even in the midst of our darkest moments, there is always the possibility of renewal and rebirth. She writes:

“the leaf falls and it is green and then it is brown and then it is gone and then it is green again”

This image of the leaf falling and then becoming green again is a powerful metaphor for the way in which life is constantly renewing itself. Even in the midst of death and decay, there is always the possibility of new life and growth.

Throughout the poem, Sexton also explores the idea of time and the way in which it shapes our lives. She writes:

“the clock ticks and the heart beats and the sun rises and the sun sets and the moon waxes and the moon wanes”

This image of the clock ticking and the heart beating is a powerful reminder of the way in which time is constantly moving forward, regardless of our own desires or wishes. At the same time, however, the image also suggests that there is a kind of beauty and grace in the cyclical nature of time. The sun rises and sets, the moon waxes and wanes, and life goes on, again and again and again.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of repetition. Throughout the poem, Sexton returns again and again to the same phrases and images, creating a sense of circularity and inevitability. This repetition is both comforting and unsettling, suggesting that there is a kind of order and structure to the universe, but also that we are all caught up in a never-ending cycle of birth, growth, decay, and eventual death.

Overall, “Again and Again and Again” is a powerful and haunting meditation on the cyclical nature of life and death. Through vivid imagery and a relentless repetition of key phrases, Sexton explores the ways in which we are all caught up in a never-ending cycle of birth, growth, decay, and eventual death. At the same time, however, the poem suggests that there is a kind of beauty and grace in this cycle, and that even in the midst of our darkest moments, there is always the possibility of renewal and rebirth.

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