Anne Sexton Love Poems: A Poetic Exploration of Desire, Passion, and Vulnerability

Anne Sexton, born on November 9, 1928, in Newton, Massachusetts, was an influential American poet known for her gripping exploration of love, mental health, and the complexities of human emotions. Often referred to as a confessional poet, Sexton fearlessly delved into deeply personal experiences and emotions through her evocative and haunting poetry. In this article, we will explore some of Anne Sexton's most powerful love poems, which offer a glimpse into the raw and complex nature of love.

The Pursuit of Love: "Flee On Your Donkey"

In her poem "Flee On Your Donkey," Anne Sexton portrays the passionate pursuit of love, weaving together vivid imagery and metaphorical language to captivate her readers. This poem explores the excitement, desperation, and vulnerability that come with the quest for love.

Flea on your donkey,
I want you so badly
I think my heart is jammed
in my backbone, this is killing.
All I have is a voice
like a wounded bull and you are
the china shop of love. If I durst,
I would close my eyes and leap.
But I can't swim, you know.
I'll sink like a stone
in your blue coffin.
I'm a liar with a dark secret
in the marrow of my mouth.
Red mittens were never so lovely.
My hands are balloons
that I prize away.
I want to see them dance.
Let the bucks pour in.
The tap is open.
We'll all get drunk.
We'll think we are on
some ocean island,
calf-like in the cattails.
The water falls in money.
You wrote the script.
We'll let it ride.
The sheep are all sinking.
Their pockets are full of candy.

Through this poem, Sexton delves into the intense desire for love and the willingness to surrender and take risks for its attainment. With her use of striking imagery and captivating metaphors, she creates a vivid picture of love's allure and the accompanying vulnerability one experiences when pursuing it.

Love as a Poison: "Her Kind"

"Her Kind" is a powerful poem by Anne Sexton that delves into the complex relationship between love and the self. In this compelling piece, Sexton examines how societal expectations and norms can poison one's sense of self and love.

I have gone out, a possessed witch,
haunting the black air, braver at night;
dreaming evil, I have done my hitch
over the plain houses, light by light:
lonely thing, twelve-fingered, out of mind.
A woman like that is not a woman, quite.
I have been her kind.

I have found the warm caves in the woods,
filled them with skillets, carvings, shelves,
closets, silks, innumerable goods;
fixed the suppers for the worms and the elves:
whining, rearranging the disaligned.
A woman like that is misunderstood.
I have been her kind.

I have ridden in your cart, driver,
waved my nude arms at villages going by,
learning the last bright routes, survivor
where your flames still bite my thigh
and my ribs crack where your wheels wind.
A woman like that is not ashamed to die.
I have been her kind.

In "Her Kind," Sexton explores the struggle of women who are stigmatized by society for their individuality and non-conformity. By associating herself with individuals considered outside the norms of society, Sexton challenges the reader to reconsider their preconceived notions of love and what it means to be "her kind."

A Passionate Lament: "A Curse Against Elegies"

"A Curse Against Elegies" is a poignant poem by Anne Sexton, showcasing her ability to express deep emotions with a sense of urgency and intensity. In this poem, Sexton laments the limitations of love elegies, expressing a desire for a more passionate and raw portrayal of love.

Let the snake wait under
his weed
and the writing
be of words, slow and quick, sharp
to strike, quiet to wait,
sleepless.
-- through metaphor to reconcile
the people and the stones.
Compose. (No ideas
but in things) Invent!
Saxifrage is my flower that splits
the rocks.

I am the sound of the listless voices
I am the madman laughing in the dead of night
Feathers fall from the pillow of dark
It explodes like a volcano in my heart
I am the place where time is caught
and then set free
I am the contradiction
the badly turned page
you were saving for a tranquil evening
shit and excitement
I am chaotic and orderly
I am spinning aroundn

In "A Curse Against Elegies," Sexton's distinctive style shines through as she rejects conventional expressions of love. With her bold and evocative language, she creates a sense of chaos and urgency, challenging the reader to see love as a force that defies neat and tidy elegies.

Anne Sexton's love poems delve deep into the complexities of human emotions, laying bare the raw beauty of desire, passion, and vulnerability. Through her unique blend of imagery, metaphors, and confessional style, Sexton's poems resonate with readers on a deeply personal level, inviting them to question societal norms and explore the depths of their own hearts.

By examining and dissecting love in all its forms, Anne Sexton unravels the intricate layers of human connection. Her poems serve as a reminder that love is not always neat and tidy but a force that can inspire, torment, and transform us. Through her poems, Sexton expands our understanding of what it means to love and be loved.

As we reflect on Anne Sexton's love poems, we are reminded of the power of poetry to capture the essence of human experiences, inviting us to embrace the full spectrum of emotions that love brings into our lives.