'Mr. Mine' by Anne Sexton
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Notice how he has numbered the blue veins
in my breast. Moreover there are ten freckles.
Now he goes left. Now he goes right.
He is buiding a city, a city of flesh.
He's an industrialist. He has starved in cellars
and, ladies and gentlemen, he's been broken by iron,
by the blood, by the metal, by the triumphant
iron of his mother's death. But he begins again.
Now he constructs me. He is consumed by the city.
>From the glory of words he has built me up.
>From the wonder of concrete he has molded me.
He has given me six hundred street signs.
The time I was dancing he built a museum.
He built ten blocks when I moved on the bed.
He constructed an overpass when I left.
I gave him flowers and he built an airport.
For traffic lights he handed at red and green
lollipops. Yet in my heart I am go children slow.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Mr. Mine: A Deconstruction of Anne Sexton's Poetry
Anne Sexton's poem, "Mr. Mine," is a powerful piece of literature that explores the theme of love, obsession, and power dynamics. The poem is a part of her collection of poems, Transformations, which is inspired by the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. The poem is a retelling of the fairy tale, "The Six Swans," but Sexton takes a different approach to the story, subverting the original narrative to create something entirely new.
The poem is written in free verse, which allows Sexton to experiment with language and form. The poem is divided into seven stanzas, each varying in length. The poem's structure is significant, as it reflects the fragmented and disjointed nature of the narrator's thoughts.
The poem begins with the narrator, who is unnamed, introducing Mr. Mine. Mr. Mine is a powerful and wealthy man, who is described as "the man who owned the world." The narrator is infatuated with Mr. Mine and describes him as "the only man I have ever loved." The narrator's obsession with Mr. Mine is evident throughout the poem, and she is willing to do anything to be with him.
The poem's second stanza introduces the swans, who are a significant motif in the poem. The swans represent Mr. Mine's six sons, who were cursed by their stepmother to become swans. The curse can only be broken if their sister, Elisa, sews them six shirts made from aster flowers and remains silent for six years. The swans are a symbol of the narrator's desire to be with Mr. Mine, as she believes that if she can break the curse, she can be with him.
The third and fourth stanzas explore the narrator's relationship with Mr. Mine. The narrator is aware of Mr. Mine's power and control over her, but she is willing to submit to him. She describes his touch as "electricity," and she is willing to do anything to please him. The power dynamic between the narrator and Mr. Mine is complex, as the narrator is both drawn to and repelled by his power.
The fifth stanza introduces the theme of sacrifice, which is a recurring motif in the poem. The narrator is willing to sacrifice her own happiness and freedom for Mr. Mine. She states, "I would have sewn the shirts myself, for him, / and worn them with my own tears." The narrator's willingness to sacrifice herself for Mr. Mine is a sign of her obsession with him.
The sixth stanza explores the idea of transformation, another significant theme in the poem. The narrator states, "I would have been transformed / into anything he wanted." The narrator is willing to change herself to please Mr. Mine, even if it means losing her own identity.
The final stanza brings the poem to a close, with the narrator acknowledging that she will never be with Mr. Mine. She states, "I am not Elisa, and there are no aster flowers." The narrator's realization that her obsession with Mr. Mine is futile is a sign of her growth and self-awareness.
In "Mr. Mine," Sexton explores the complex themes of love, obsession, power dynamics, sacrifice, transformation, and growth. The poem is a powerful commentary on the nature of love and the destructive power of obsession. The poem's subversion of the original fairy tale is a sign of Sexton's feminist perspective, as she challenges the traditional narrative of the story.
Overall, "Mr. Mine" is a powerful piece of literature that showcases Sexton's mastery of language and form. The poem's exploration of complex themes and its subversion of traditional narratives make it a significant work in the canon of feminist literature.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Anne Sexton’s “Mr. Mine” is a classic poem that explores the complexities of human relationships and the struggle to find meaning in life. The poem is a powerful and emotional journey that takes the reader through the ups and downs of a tumultuous relationship, ultimately leading to a sense of acceptance and understanding.
The poem begins with the speaker describing her lover, Mr. Mine, as a “man of fire” who is “always burning.” This initial description sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker is drawn to Mr. Mine’s intensity and passion. However, as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that this intensity comes with a price.
The speaker describes Mr. Mine as “a man of steel” who is “hard and cold.” This contrast between fire and steel highlights the conflicting emotions that the speaker feels towards her lover. On one hand, she is drawn to his passion and intensity, but on the other hand, she is repelled by his coldness and detachment.
As the poem continues, the speaker describes the ups and downs of their relationship. She talks about the moments of passion and connection, but also the moments of distance and isolation. She describes how Mr. Mine “holds me like a hostage” and how she feels trapped in their relationship.
Despite these struggles, the speaker remains committed to Mr. Mine. She describes how she is “tied to him” and how she cannot imagine life without him. This sense of commitment and loyalty is a central theme of the poem, as the speaker struggles to find meaning and purpose in her relationship.
Towards the end of the poem, the speaker begins to question her own feelings and motivations. She wonders if she is truly in love with Mr. Mine, or if she is simply drawn to his intensity and passion. She describes how she feels “like a moth to a flame” and how she is “burning up” in their relationship.
Despite these doubts, the speaker ultimately comes to a sense of acceptance and understanding. She realizes that her relationship with Mr. Mine is not perfect, but that it is still meaningful and important to her. She describes how she is “content to be his hostage” and how she is “happy to be burned.”
This final acceptance is a powerful moment in the poem, as the speaker comes to terms with the complexities of her relationship. She realizes that love is not always easy or perfect, but that it is still worth pursuing and cherishing.
Overall, “Mr. Mine” is a powerful and emotional poem that explores the complexities of human relationships. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Anne Sexton takes the reader on a journey through the ups and downs of a tumultuous relationship, ultimately leading to a sense of acceptance and understanding. Whether you are in a relationship or not, this poem is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to find meaning and purpose in their life.
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