'The Earth Falls Down' by Anne Sexton
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If I could blame it all on the weather,
the snow like the cadaver's table,
the trees turned into knitting needles,
the ground as hard as a frozen haddock,
the pond wearing its mustache of frost.
If I could blame conditions on that,
if I could blame the hearts of strangers
striding muffled down the street,
or blame the dogs, every color,
sniffing each other
and pissing on the doorstep...
If I could blame the bosses
and the presidents for
their unpardonable songs...
If I could blame it on all
the mothers and fathers of the world,
they of the lessons, the pellets of power,
they of the love surrounding you like batter...
Blame it on God perhaps?
He of the first opening
that pushed us all into our first mistakes?
No, I'll blame it on Man
For Man is God
and man is eating the earth up
like a candy bar
and not one of them can be left alone with the ocean
for it is known he will gulp it all down.
The stars (possibly) are safe.
At least for the moment.
The stars are pears
that no one can reach,
even for a wedding.
Perhaps for a death.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Earth Falls Down by Anne Sexton
Anne Sexton's poem, The Earth Falls Down, is a haunting and powerful reflection on the fragility of existence and the inevitability of death. Written in 1968, the poem is a product of a time of great social upheaval and political unrest, and it speaks to the anxieties of that era while also transcending them to offer a timeless meditation on the human condition.
Form and Structure
The Earth Falls Down is a free verse poem with no rhyme scheme or strict meter, allowing Sexton to experiment with language and imagery in a way that feels spontaneous and natural. The poem is divided into four stanzas, with each stanza representing a different stage in the cycle of life and death.
The first stanza sets the tone of the poem with its striking opening lines:
The earth falls down and down
and the air moves like a river
into which the dead are thrown.
Here, Sexton uses metaphor to describe the movement of air as a river, into which the dead are thrown. This image sets the stage for the rest of the poem, which explores the themes of mortality and decay.
The second stanza describes the process of decay, with the speaker observing the decomposition of a dead body:
I have seen them walking the woods
behind my house, half-naked,
lifting their heads in a stained
and white undershirt…
Sexton's use of imagery is particularly striking here, with the half-naked bodies and stained undershirts suggesting a sense of decay and decayed beauty. The final lines of this stanza, "they are as beautiful as someone/ who has lost a loved one," are particularly poignant, highlighting the connection between death and beauty that runs throughout the poem.
The third stanza shifts focus to the speaker's own mortality, as she meditates on the inevitability of her own death:
I can smell my own death on my skin.
I know that it's coming.
Here, the language is more direct and personal, reflecting the speaker's own sense of vulnerability and mortality. Sexton's use of sensory language, such as the smell of death on the skin, adds to the visceral and immediate impact of these lines.
The final stanza returns to the imagery of the first stanza, with the earth falling down and the dead being thrown into the river of air:
The earth falls down and down
and the dead float up like angels.
This image is both beautiful and haunting, suggesting a sense of release and transcendence that comes with death. The final lines of the poem, "The earth falls down and down/ and I am in the arms of my mother," offer a sense of comfort and acceptance, as the speaker embraces the inevitability of death and the possibility of reunion with loved ones in the afterlife.
Themes and Interpretation
At its core, The Earth Falls Down is a meditation on the fragility and transience of life, and the inevitability of death. Throughout the poem, Sexton uses vivid imagery to explore the themes of decay, mortality, and transcendence, offering a powerful and deeply affecting reflection on the human condition.
One of the key themes of the poem is the connection between death and beauty. Sexton's use of language and imagery throughout the poem suggests that there is a kind of beauty in decay and mortality, a sense that even in death there is a kind of release and transcendence that can be deeply moving and meaningful.
Another important theme of the poem is the idea of acceptance and surrender. The final lines of the poem suggest that the speaker has come to accept her own mortality and is ready to embrace the possibility of reunion with loved ones in the afterlife. This sense of acceptance and surrender is at odds with the sense of anxiety and unrest that permeates the rest of the poem, suggesting that there is a kind of peace that comes with embracing the inevitability of death.
Conclusion
Overall, The Earth Falls Down is a haunting and deeply affecting poem that speaks to the anxieties and uncertainties of the human condition. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Sexton explores the themes of decay, mortality, and transcendence, offering a meditation on the fragility and transience of life that is both beautiful and poignant. Whether read as a product of its time or as a timeless meditation on the human condition, The Earth Falls Down is a powerful and deeply moving work of poetry that deserves to be remembered and celebrated.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Earth Falls Down: An Analysis of Anne Sexton's Classic Poem
Anne Sexton's poem, The Earth Falls Down, is a haunting and powerful piece of literature that explores the themes of death, decay, and the fragility of life. Written in 1961, the poem is a reflection on the inevitability of death and the way in which the natural world is constantly in a state of flux. In this analysis, we will explore the various themes and motifs that are present in the poem, as well as the literary devices that Sexton employs to convey her message.
The poem begins with the line "The earth falls down and down," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of repetition in this line emphasizes the sense of inevitability that pervades the poem. The earth is falling down, and there is nothing that can be done to stop it. This sense of helplessness is a recurring theme throughout the poem, as Sexton explores the idea that death is an inescapable part of life.
One of the most striking aspects of The Earth Falls Down is the way in which Sexton uses imagery to convey her message. The poem is filled with vivid descriptions of decay and destruction, such as "the trees are falling like teeth," and "the sky is a graveyard." These images are powerful and evocative, and they serve to reinforce the idea that death is an ever-present force in the natural world.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of transformation. Sexton describes how "the earth is turning into stone," and how "the sea is turning into ice." These images suggest that the natural world is constantly changing and evolving, and that even in death, there is a sense of transformation and renewal. This idea is further reinforced by the final lines of the poem, which describe how "the earth falls down and down, but it will rise again."
In addition to the themes of death and transformation, The Earth Falls Down also explores the idea of human mortality. Sexton writes, "we are all falling down," suggesting that death is something that affects everyone, regardless of their station in life. This idea is further reinforced by the use of the word "we," which creates a sense of unity and shared experience among all people.
One of the most powerful literary devices that Sexton employs in the poem is the use of repetition. The phrase "the earth falls down" is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of inevitability and finality. This repetition also serves to reinforce the idea that death is an ever-present force in the natural world, and that there is no escaping its grasp.
Another important literary device that Sexton uses in the poem is personification. The earth is described as falling, the trees are falling like teeth, and the sky is a graveyard. These personifications create a sense of movement and action in the poem, and they serve to reinforce the idea that the natural world is constantly in a state of flux.
Finally, it is worth noting the way in which the poem is structured. The Earth Falls Down is a free verse poem, meaning that it does not follow a strict rhyme or meter. This lack of structure creates a sense of chaos and disorder, which is appropriate given the subject matter of the poem. The lack of structure also allows Sexton to experiment with language and imagery, creating a powerful and evocative piece of literature.
In conclusion, The Earth Falls Down is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of death, decay, and the fragility of life. Through the use of vivid imagery, repetition, and personification, Sexton creates a sense of inevitability and finality that is both unsettling and thought-provoking. The poem is a reminder that death is an ever-present force in the natural world, and that even in the face of destruction and decay, there is a sense of transformation and renewal.
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