'The Dead Heart' by Anne Sexton


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After I wrote this, a friend scrawled on this page, "Yes."



And I said, merely to myself, "I wish it could be for a

different seizure--as with Molly Bloom and her ‘and

yes I said yes I will Yes."




It is not a turtle

hiding in its little green shell.

It is not a stone

to pick up and put under your black wing.

It is not a subway car that is obsolete.

It is not a lump of coal that you could light.

It is a dead heart.

It is inside of me.

It is a stranger

yet once it was agreeable,

opening and closing like a clam.



What it has cost me you can't imagine,

shrinks, priests, lovers, children, husbands,

friends and all the lot.

An expensive thing it was to keep going.

It gave back too.

Don't deny it!

I half wonder if April would bring it back to life?

A tulip? The first bud?

But those are just musings on my part,

the pity one has when one looks at a cadaver.



How did it die?

I called it EVIL.

I said to it, your poems stink like vomit.

I didn't stay to hear the last sentence.

It died on the word EVIL.

It did it with my tongue.

The tongue, the Chinese say,

is like a sharp knife:

it kills

without drawing blood.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Dead Heart: A Critical Examination of Anne Sexton's Poem

Anne Sexton's poem "The Dead Heart" is a hauntingly beautiful work that explores the depths of human emotion and the fragility of the human condition. The poem is a powerful and moving portrayal of the human heart, and its struggles with love, loss, and the inevitability of death.

At its core, "The Dead Heart" is a deeply introspective work that invites the reader to reflect on the nature of their own emotions and the human experience. The poem is written in Sexton's signature confessional style, and it is characterized by a sense of raw honesty and vulnerability that is both captivating and unsettling.

As a literary critic, I find "The Dead Heart" to be a fascinating work, filled with complex themes and layered meanings. In this essay, I will explore the many facets of this poem, examining its use of language, its imagery, and its underlying themes.

Language

One of the most striking aspects of "The Dead Heart" is its use of language. Sexton's writing is poetic and lyrical, with a rhythm and flow that is both musical and evocative. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and metaphors that create a sense of depth and complexity.

Sexton's use of language is particularly powerful in the opening stanza of the poem, where she describes the heart as a "dead bird / frozen on the ground." This image is both haunting and beautiful, evoking a sense of loss and sorrow that permeates the rest of the poem.

Throughout the poem, Sexton uses language to create a sense of contrast and tension. She juxtaposes images of life and death, love and loss, hope and despair, creating a sense of emotional complexity that is both challenging and rewarding for the reader.

Imagery

In addition to its use of language, "The Dead Heart" is also characterized by its rich and evocative imagery. Sexton uses imagery to create a sense of depth and complexity, painting vivid pictures that are both beautiful and haunting.

One of the most powerful images in the poem is that of the heart as a dead bird. This image is particularly striking, as it captures both the fragility and the resilience of the human heart. The dead bird is a symbol of loss and sorrow, yet it also represents the potential for renewal and rebirth.

Sexton also uses imagery to explore the theme of love and its many complexities. She describes love as a "red sky / falling to pieces" and "an old wound / that never heals." These images capture the pain and intensity of love, and the way in which it can both uplift and destroy us.

Throughout the poem, Sexton uses imagery to create a vivid and immersive world, inviting the reader to experience the emotional landscape of the human heart.

Themes

At its core, "The Dead Heart" is a deeply introspective work that explores the many themes and complexities of the human experience. One of the most prominent themes in the poem is that of love and its many complexities.

Sexton portrays love as a force that is both beautiful and destructive, capable of bringing us to the heights of ecstasy and the depths of despair. She writes, "Love is a greedy dog, a grinning skull / that bites you and never lets go." This image captures the way in which love can consume us, leaving us vulnerable and exposed.

Another prominent theme in the poem is that of death and its inevitability. Sexton writes, "Death is the only god / that comes when you call." This image captures the way in which death is an ever-present reality in our lives, a force that we cannot escape.

Throughout the poem, Sexton explores the many complexities of the human heart, and the way in which we are all vulnerable to the forces of love and loss, joy and sorrow, life and death.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Dead Heart" is a powerful and moving work that explores the many complexities of the human experience. Sexton's use of language and imagery creates a vivid and immersive world, inviting the reader to explore the emotional landscape of the human heart.

The poem is a deeply introspective work that challenges the reader to reflect on their own emotions and the fragility of the human condition. It is a work of great beauty and depth, and it is a testament to Anne Sexton's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in her writing.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Dead Heart: A Poem of Despair and Hope

Anne Sexton's The Dead Heart is a hauntingly beautiful poem that explores the themes of despair and hope. The poem is a powerful reflection on the human condition, and it speaks to the universal experience of loss, grief, and the search for meaning in life. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem, and we will examine how they contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the work.

The poem begins with a stark and powerful image: "My heart is a dead tissue box." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it establishes a sense of emptiness and loss. The heart, which is traditionally associated with love and emotion, is here reduced to a lifeless object. This image is reinforced in the second line, where the speaker describes her heart as "a black hole in my chest." This image of a void or emptiness is a recurring motif throughout the poem, and it serves to underscore the speaker's sense of despair and hopelessness.

The first stanza of the poem continues with a series of images that reinforce the theme of loss and emptiness. The speaker describes her heart as "a dead bird in my hand," and she compares herself to a "widow in black." These images suggest a sense of mourning and grief, and they convey a feeling of isolation and loneliness. The speaker is alone with her dead heart, and she is struggling to find meaning and purpose in her life.

The second stanza of the poem introduces a new image: "But there is a seed in my dead heart." This image of a seed suggests the possibility of growth and renewal, and it introduces the theme of hope into the poem. The speaker acknowledges that even in the midst of her despair, there is a glimmer of hope. This hope is further reinforced in the third stanza, where the speaker describes the seed as "a green shoot that will grow." This image suggests that even in the darkest of times, there is the potential for new life and growth.

The fourth stanza of the poem introduces a new image that reinforces the theme of hope: "I will plant this seed in the earth." This image suggests that the speaker is taking action to nurture and cultivate the seed of hope within her. She is not content to simply wallow in her despair; she is actively working to find meaning and purpose in her life. This image is further reinforced in the fifth stanza, where the speaker describes herself as "a gardener of the soul." This image suggests that the speaker is engaged in a process of self-discovery and self-improvement, and that she is actively working to cultivate her own inner life.

The final stanza of the poem brings the themes of despair and hope together in a powerful and moving way. The speaker acknowledges that her heart is still dead, but she also recognizes that there is a seed of hope within her. She concludes the poem with the powerful image of a "green shoot that will grow in the dark." This image suggests that even in the darkest of times, there is the potential for new life and growth. The speaker is not giving up on herself or on life; she is holding onto hope, even in the face of despair.

In terms of language and imagery, The Dead Heart is a masterful work of poetry. The language is spare and evocative, and the imagery is powerful and haunting. The use of metaphor and symbolism is particularly effective, as it allows the poet to convey complex emotions and ideas in a concise and powerful way. The repeated image of the dead heart, for example, serves as a powerful metaphor for the speaker's sense of loss and despair. The image of the seed, on the other hand, serves as a powerful symbol of hope and renewal.

In conclusion, The Dead Heart is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of despair and hope. The poem speaks to the universal experience of loss, grief, and the search for meaning in life. Through its use of language and imagery, the poem conveys a sense of the complexity and richness of the human experience. Ultimately, the poem offers a message of hope and renewal, suggesting that even in the darkest of times, there is the potential for new life and growth.

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