Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton's "The Big Heart" is a reflective and deeply personal exploration of love, gratitude, and the overwhelming capacity of the human heart to hold and process the complexities of life. Drawing from the poignant idea attributed to W.B. Yeats—that there can be too much for even a "big heart" to contain—the poem meditates on the emotional abundance in the speaker's life and the profound, sometimes overwhelming, experience of love and connection.

The poem opens with the invocation of a "big heart," which Sexton immediately likens to a watermelon—both wide and expansive. This metaphor suggests that the heart is not only large in its capacity but also vibrant and full of life, much like the fruit. However, it is "wise as birth," a comparison that introduces the idea of the heart's inherent wisdom and its deep connection to the origins of life itself. Birth is both a beginning and a fundamental, natural process, indicating that the heart’s wisdom is both primal and intuitive, rooted in the essence of being.

Sexton then shifts to enumerate the people in her life—Max, Lois, Joe, Louise, Joan, Marie, Dawn, Arlene, Father Dunne—each name representing a thread in the fabric of her emotional world. These individuals, though living "short lives" in the grand scheme of time, repeatedly give to her, offering support, understanding, and love. The repetition of their giving is likened to the sea's "many fingers on the shore, / again and again," a beautiful and rhythmic image that evokes the endless, comforting, and natural cycle of the ocean’s embrace. This metaphor suggests that these people are constant and nurturing, grounding the speaker with their presence and care.

The speaker’s relationships are described with vivid, sensory-rich language: "they help me unravel, / they listen with ears made of conch shells, / they speak back with the wine of the best region." These lines convey a deep sense of intimacy and connection. The conch shell, with its ability to capture and echo the sound of the sea, symbolizes a deep, resonant listening, while the "wine of the best region" suggests that their responses are both rich and refined, full of understanding and wisdom. These people are not just friends or acquaintances; they are the speaker’s "staff," her support system, and they provide comfort in her times of need.

Sexton then reveals the depth of her vulnerability, acknowledging that "the artery of my soul has been severed / and soul is spurting out upon them." This graphic image of bleeding evokes intense emotional pain and turmoil, suggesting that the speaker’s very essence is pouring out uncontrollably, affecting those around her. The imagery of blood "messing up their clothes, / dirtying their shoes" indicates that her suffering is not contained but spills over, impacting those she loves. Yet, despite this, these individuals remain steadfast, continuing to support and comfort her.

Amidst this outpouring of emotion, the speaker finds solace in her relationship with God, who is "filling me," even in times of doubt. The comparison of doubt to the "Grand Canyon" emphasizes its vastness and depth, suggesting that doubt can feel like an immense, empty chasm. Yet, despite these periods of spiritual emptiness, God continues to fill her with "the thoughts of dogs, / the spider in its intricate web, / the sun / in all its amazement." These images from nature and daily life—simple, yet profound—are reminders of the beauty and complexity of the world that continue to sustain her.

The poem reaches a crescendo with the image of "a slain ram / that is the glory, / the mystery of great cost," which introduces a sense of sacrifice and spiritual significance. The ram, traditionally associated with sacrifice in various religious traditions, symbolizes the profound and costly nature of true love and spiritual fulfillment. This sacrifice is integral to the speaker’s understanding of her own heart, which she describes as "very big," even a "monster of sorts." The word "monster" here suggests both the immense capacity and potentially overwhelming nature of her heart—something that can be both awe-inspiring and fearsome in its ability to absorb and contain the "fury of love."

In "The Big Heart," Sexton navigates the complexity of love, gratitude, and spiritual fulfillment with a blend of raw honesty and lyrical beauty. The poem encapsulates the tension between the abundance of love and the pain that often accompanies it, the overwhelming nature of human connection, and the spiritual sustenance found in both people and the divine. Through rich imagery and a deep emotional resonance, Sexton presents the heart not just as an organ of feeling but as a vast, complex landscape capable of holding all the contradictions and wonders of life. The poem ultimately suggests that this vast capacity for love, though it may bring pain and doubt, is also what makes life profoundly meaningful.

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