Poetry Is A Complex And Difficult Genre - 2823 Words

Poetry is a complex and difficult genre: for some, it is a beautiful outlet for all intense emotions to run free, and for others, it is the bottom of the horrible barrel of literature and the bane of existence. But whichever side of the spectrum you are on, the fact remains that poets skillfully condense an intense amount of meaning into few words. Reading a poem the first time is an experience, the diction, imagery, and music washes over all of the senses at once, not allowing for much contemplation, like dipping a toe in the water. The second reading allows for more connections and inferences to be made, but still does not fully communicate the poem’s depth or meaning, like standing on an underwater cliff. To obtain a greater†¦show more content†¦Sexton introduces these witch women as outcasts but connects to them, creating a social commentary on how, as women, we are naturally on the outskirts of society (especially in the 1900’s, when this poem was written) . But Sexton makes an argument that this ostracization actually is a point that can unify women, that we need not feel alone. Let us dive into the first stanza and see what more can be discovered. In her first stanza, Sexton introduces the first female outcast that the speaker connects with—described as a witch—and sets the format of the poem with diction, exact rhymes, and refrain while using a tone of restlessness and desperation. Sexton begins all stanzas with the phrase â€Å"I have† to put emphasis on the speaker—assumingly Saxton herself—and draw parallels between herself and the witch (Sexton, 1). She immediately dives into metaphorical language, speaking of mystical events while drawing parallels to herself and all other estranged women, stating â€Å"I have gone out, a possessed witch,/haunting the black air, braver at night;† (Sexton, 1-2). We will see these connections between fantasy and reality throughout the poem, and not on just two levels—these first two lines simultaneously reference storybook witches, accused witches from the Salem Witch trials,