Love Poems

one of 3 books of poems i've kept within reach all my adult life. Yes, it has all of her darkness, her deep sense of hopelessness, her confessionals. But there are more than a few poems in this that are pure brilliance. My favorite,

"The Kiss"

My mouth blooms like a cut.
I've been wronged all year, tedious
nights, nothing but rough elbows in them
and delicate boxes of Kleenex calling crybaby
crybaby , you fool !

Before today my body was useless.
Now it's tearing at its square corners.
It's tearing old Mary's garments off, knot by knot
and see -- Now it's shot full of these electric bolts.
Zing! A resurrection!

Once it was a boat, quite wooden
and with no business, no salt water under it
and in need of some paint. It was no more
than a group of show more boards. But you hoisted her, rigged her.
She's been elected.

My nerves are turned on. I hear them like
musical instruments. Where there was silence
the drums, the strings are incurably playing. You did this.
Pure genius at work. Darling, the composer has stepped
into fire. show less

The turbulent 60's right after the shocking death of JFK is the time-frame for these poems by Anne Sexton. There seems to be darkness about a book titled love poems. A very distinct tension becomes part of each poem. In the same respect the poems are deep, pulling at every breath of her emotions. SHe pushsto the next level breaking new ground for a woman in the era. I think any reader can find something they like in this collection. At the very least you will be challenged to interpret Sextons meaning in each poem.

In the forward of this edition these poems are described as "unmaidenly." I am sure this was shocking back in the sixties, but it seems pretty tame by today's standards. At least Sexton had the courage to write poetry that challenged convention.

She decided to see how unromantic a book called 'Love Poems' could be; in a sense, any attempt is better than, nothing at all, I guess, but....

At some point you have to distinguish between what's really good and what's, not even really intended to be really good-- look at me! not being very good! tee-hee; I'm a teen rebel and I'm too good for love! tee-hee..... you have to distinguish, at least a little.

What I'd even say is, if you read "Running with Scissors", or even watch the movie, (really, you have to read the book, especially if you're not gonna pick up on it right away), then you'll learn something about what Anne Sexton is really like.

My advice is you have to learn to distinguish between what's best from the 60s (to be blunt show more I'd have to mention the Beatles, "Something", for example), and what's worst-- between the heat and the light, the dross and the silver, or else.... you'll end up dumping the dirty bathwater on the baby's head, and that'll be your nonsensical little rebellion's end.

I mean, to quote it, just to spike it--

"..... Oh my Nazi
With your S.S. sky-blue eyes"

That is what I'd call useless or un-useable, to put it light. It might give the author some shits and giggles, (to write, and then to show her friends what little revolutionary she is-- not as an actual effin' love poem), but you can't seriously give something like that to your lover on her anniversary-- not if she's going to read it, I think.

If you're expecting me to call that the pinnacle of poetry, then ("so if you want money for people with minds that hate...." or, at least, fail to love) I'm telling you, sister, you're gonna have to wait.

I mean, I gave it a seven, but, really.....

................................

I should give it a six.

(6/10) show less