Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton’s "Lament" is a poignant meditation on grief, guilt, and the powerlessness one feels in the face of death. The poem captures the immediate aftermath of loss, as the speaker grapples with the overwhelming sense that they could have done something to prevent the tragedy. Sexton’s language is simple yet laden with emotion, reflecting the rawness of the moment and the complexity of the feelings that accompany it.

The poem opens with the stark statement, "Someone is dead." This blunt acknowledgment sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker reflects on the finality of death and their own perceived culpability. The imagery of the trees as "poor old dancers who come on lewdly, / all pea-green scarfs and spine pole" suggests a world that continues on with a kind of grotesque normalcy, indifferent to the human tragedy that has occurred. The personification of the trees, with their "spine pole," evokes the idea of a rigid, mechanical continuation of life, even in the face of death.

The speaker’s thoughts quickly turn inward, as they consider the various ways they might have prevented the death. The repetition of "I think" underscores the obsessive nature of these thoughts, as the speaker replays the events leading up to the death, searching for a moment where they could have intervened. The mention of being "as firm as a nurse" or noticing "the neck of the driver" suggests a desire for control and a sense of responsibility that the speaker feels they have failed to uphold. These thoughts are rooted in a deep sense of guilt, as the speaker imagines that if only they had been "different, or wise, or calm," they might have been able to alter the outcome.

However, the speaker ultimately acknowledges the futility of these thoughts with the line, "But it's done. / It's all used up." This admission of defeat reflects the realization that no amount of regret or self-blame can change what has happened. The repetition of "it's done" emphasizes the finality of death, while "it's all used up" suggests that there is no more room for action or intervention—the opportunity to change the course of events has passed.

The poem then shifts back to the external world, where nature continues on, seemingly unaffected by the loss. The "Canada goose" that "rides up, / spread out like a gray suede shirt" and the cat that "breathes calmly / into her watery blue fur" represent the ongoing rhythms of life that persist despite the tragedy. The mundane details of "supper dishes" and the setting sun reinforce the idea that life continues, indifferent to the personal devastation that the speaker feels.

In the final lines, the sun "unaccustomed to anything else / goes all the way down," suggesting the relentless passage of time and the inevitability of death. The sun’s descent marks the end of the day, just as the death marks the end of a life, and there is a sense of resignation in the speaker’s tone. The world remains unchanged, despite the profound impact that the death has had on the speaker.

"Lament" captures the universal experience of grief and the accompanying feelings of guilt and helplessness. Sexton’s use of imagery and repetition effectively conveys the speaker’s inner turmoil, while the juxtaposition of the speaker’s thoughts with the indifferent natural world highlights the isolation that often accompanies loss. The poem is a powerful reflection on the human tendency to blame oneself in the face of tragedy and the ultimate acceptance of death’s finality.

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