What I like about Anne Sexton‘s work is her ability to be herself in her poetry, to write honestly about her life experiences and feelings no matter how morbid, to draw from biblical images (at least I think she does), and to be bold and use the imperative. I really like her imaginative imagery, especially in this particular one titled “From the Garden,” which I think makes a reference to her stay in a mental hospital. This poem, like a puzzle, is pretty fascinating to me with its many layers:
Come, my beloved,
consider the lilies.
We are of little faith.
We talk too much.
Put your mouthful of words away
and come with me to watch
the lilies open in such a field,
growing there like yachts,
slowly steering their petals
without nurses or clocks.
Let us consider the view:
a house where white clouds
decorate the muddy halls.
Oh, put away your good words
and your bad words. Spit out
your words like stones!
Come here! Come here!
Come eat my pleasant fruits.
Blush of Dawn 
6 responses to “Author of the Day: Anne Sexton, and I’m Home”
A fantastic poem to share! I love discovering book shops and books that seem just like me.
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A WHITE BIRD FLYING!?! A WHITE BIRD FLYING!?! THAT'S MY MOST FAVOURITE BOOK EVER!Hehe… Sorry. There are very few things that get me excited in life and Bess Streeter Aldrich's books are on that list. I really hope you enjoy it. :)I love that poem! I felt really soothed while reading it… (Which totally ended once I read the part about A White Bird Flying; now I'm all psyched. XD)
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Amber, I'm glad you liked the poem. 🙂 Book shops do have a really nice charm about them…so fun to find new ones.Melee, Your comment really amused me! What a wonderful coincidence…finding your favorite book! I'll let you know what I think of it when I read it…(can't wait…but first I will finish Little Men by L.M Alcott) We tend to have very similar taste in books & music. 🙂
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Jade,A beautiful poem! I guess you made it home just in time for the storm 😉 We got hammered here in NH….what a mess! How about you?
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Mary, we got home right before the storm, which was great. We didn't get too much snow here, but the heavy winds took down a lot of people's electricity in the areas around us. Too early for snow!
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It is too early 🙂 Your wedding pictures are beautiful, Jade. Too bad you didn't get snowed in…Lol!
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