'Her Kind' by Anne Sexton
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I have gone out, a possessed witch,
haunting the black air, braver at night;
dreaming evil, I have done my hitch
over the plain houses, light by light:
lonely thing, twelve-fingered, out of mind.
A woman like that is not a woman, quite.
I have been her kind.
I have found the warm caves in the woods,
filled them with skillets, carvings, shelves,
closets, silks, innumerable goods;
fixed the suppers for the worms and the elves:
whining, rearranging the disaligned.
A woman like that is misunderstood.
I have been her kind.
I have ridden in your cart, driver,
waved my nude arms at villages going by,
learning the last bright routes, survivor
where your flames still bite my thigh
and my ribs crack where your wheels wind.
A woman like that is not ashamed to die.
I have been her kind.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Her Kind by Anne Sexton
There's something about poetry that makes it so special - it's not just words on a page, but a whole new world, a whole new way of looking at life. And when it comes to Anne Sexton's "Her Kind," there's something even more special there. Something that's hard to put into words, but that makes you feel like you're seeing the world in a whole new way.
The Poem
Let's start with the poem itself. "Her Kind" is a hauntingly beautiful piece of writing that explores the struggles of a woman who doesn't quite fit in with the world around her. It's a poem that's full of contradictions and complexities, with lines that seem to contradict each other and yet somehow work together perfectly.
The poem opens with the speaker talking about how she's been "awake all night," wandering around her house, looking for something. Right away, you get the sense that something isn't quite right here. There's a sense of restlessness and unease that permeates the poem from the very beginning.
As the poem progresses, we learn more about the woman who's speaking. She's someone who's been "badly burned" and who's "been out with the witches." She's someone who's "been with the soldiers" and who's "been with the beasts." She's someone who's "done it all."
But despite all of this, there's still a sense of loneliness and isolation that runs through the poem. The woman is someone who's been on the fringes of society, someone who's never quite fit in. And yet, there's a sense of defiance there too. She's not going to conform to what society expects of her. She's going to be her own person, no matter what.
Interpretation
So what does it all mean? What's Anne Sexton trying to say with this poem?
Well, on the surface level, "Her Kind" is a poem about a woman who doesn't fit in with society. But it's also so much more than that. It's a poem about the struggles that we all face as human beings - the struggle to find our place in the world, the struggle to be true to ourselves, the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life.
The woman in the poem is someone who's been through a lot. She's "been badly burned," both literally and figuratively. She's been through experiences that most of us can't even imagine. And yet, despite all of this, there's a sense of strength and resilience there too. This is someone who's not going to let life get her down. She's going to keep fighting, no matter what.
But there's also a sense of sadness and loneliness there too. This is someone who's been on the outside looking in for so long that it's become a part of who she is. She's someone who's never quite felt like she belonged, no matter where she goes.
And yet, despite all of this, there's still a sense of hope there too. The woman in the poem is someone who's not going to give up. She's going to keep fighting, keep searching, keep looking for that something she's been missing.
Literary Criticism
So why is "Her Kind" such a powerful and important poem?
For one thing, it's a poem that speaks to the struggles that so many of us face in our lives. We've all been in situations where we feel like we don't quite fit in or where we're searching for something that we can't quite put into words. And yet, despite all of this, we keep going. We keep searching. We keep fighting.
But beyond that, "Her Kind" is also a beautifully crafted piece of writing. The language is rich and evocative, with images that are both haunting and beautiful. The poem is full of contradictions and complexities, with lines that seem to contradict each other and yet somehow work together perfectly.
And then there's the way that Anne Sexton uses the form of the poem to convey meaning. The short lines and stanzas create a sense of fragmentation and disjointedness that mirrors the woman's own sense of disconnection from the world around her. And yet, despite all of this, there's a sense of unity there too - of all the disparate pieces coming together to form a cohesive whole.
Conclusion
In the end, "Her Kind" is a poem that's hard to pin down. It's a poem that's full of contradictions and complexities, with layers of meaning that reveal themselves slowly over time. But at its core, it's a poem that speaks to the struggles that we all face in our lives - the struggles to find our place in the world, the struggles to be true to ourselves, the struggles to find meaning and purpose in life.
And that's why "Her Kind" is such an important and powerful poem. It's a poem that reminds us that we're not alone in our struggles. It's a poem that encourages us to keep fighting, keep searching, keep looking for that something we've been missing. And it's a poem that shows us that even in the darkest of times, there's always hope.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Anne Sexton's "Her Kind" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of identity, isolation, and societal expectations. The poem is a reflection of the poet's own struggles with mental illness and the societal pressures that come with being a woman in the mid-twentieth century. Through vivid imagery and a powerful voice, Sexton creates a portrait of a woman who is both a victim of her circumstances and a survivor.
The poem begins with the speaker describing herself as "a witch" and "a lonely thing." These words immediately set the tone for the rest of the poem, as they suggest that the speaker is an outcast, someone who is not accepted by society. The use of the word "witch" is particularly significant, as it suggests that the speaker is seen as a threat to the established order. In the mid-twentieth century, women who did not conform to societal expectations were often labeled as witches or madwomen, and were treated as outcasts.
The speaker goes on to describe herself as someone who has "been her kind." This phrase suggests that the speaker has always been different, that she has always been an outcast. The repetition of the phrase "her kind" emphasizes the speaker's sense of isolation and the fact that she is not like other women. The speaker then goes on to describe the things that she has done, such as "cutting a rope" and "feeding a dog." These actions are seemingly mundane, but they take on a deeper significance in the context of the poem. The speaker is suggesting that even the most ordinary actions can be seen as rebellious when they are performed by someone who is seen as an outcast.
The second stanza of the poem begins with the speaker describing the things that she has seen. She has seen "the sun break through" and "the moon run away." These images suggest that the speaker has a deep connection to nature, and that she finds solace in the natural world. The speaker then goes on to describe the things that she has heard, such as "the scream of a child" and "the crash of a wave." These sounds are jarring and unsettling, and they suggest that the speaker has experienced trauma in her life.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker describes the things that she has been called, such as "a bitch" and "a whore." These words are deeply hurtful and degrading, and they suggest that the speaker has been the victim of abuse and mistreatment. The repetition of the phrase "I have been" emphasizes the fact that these labels have been imposed upon the speaker by others, and that they do not reflect who she truly is.
The fourth stanza of the poem is a turning point. The speaker declares that she is "a woman" and that she is "alive." This declaration is significant, as it suggests that the speaker is no longer willing to be defined by the labels that others have imposed upon her. The use of the word "alive" is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the speaker has overcome the trauma and abuse that she has experienced, and that she is now able to live her life on her own terms.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the speaker's journey. She describes herself as "a witch" once again, but this time the word has a different connotation. The speaker is no longer an outcast, but rather a powerful and independent woman who has overcome the obstacles that have been placed in her path. The final lines of the poem, "and I love myself/for I am loved," are a celebration of the speaker's newfound sense of self-worth and self-love.
In conclusion, Anne Sexton's "Her Kind" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of identity, isolation, and societal expectations. Through vivid imagery and a powerful voice, Sexton creates a portrait of a woman who is both a victim of her circumstances and a survivor. The poem is a reflection of the poet's own struggles with mental illness and the societal pressures that come with being a woman in the mid-twentieth century. Ultimately, the poem is a celebration of the speaker's newfound sense of self-worth and self-love, and a reminder that even the most marginalized and oppressed individuals have the power to overcome their circumstances and live their lives on their own terms.
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