Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton's poem "Your Face on the Dog's Neck" is a complex meditation on love, intimacy, and the passage of time. Through vivid, sometimes unsettling imagery, Sexton explores the deep connection between the speaker and the beloved, while also grappling with feelings of envy, loss, and the inevitability of change. The poem is a poignant reflection on the nature of relationships, where love and desire are intertwined with vulnerability and the fear of separation.

The poem opens with a serene image: "It is early afternoon. / You sit on the grass / with your rough face on the dog's neck." This quiet, almost pastoral scene sets the stage for the exploration of deeper emotions that lie beneath the surface. The beloved is depicted in a moment of stillness, leaning on the dog in a way that suggests both comfort and reliance. The phrase "rough face" introduces a sense of weariness or ruggedness, hinting at the passage of time or the experiences that have shaped the beloved.

The speaker's attention quickly turns to the dog, who is described as "infectious" and "ought to let a fly bother her, / ought to run out in an immense field." The dog, in this sense, becomes a symbol of vitality and freedom, yet she is depicted as passive, "using you up." The speaker's concern for the beloved is evident in the line "My darling, why do you lean on her so?" This question underscores the speaker's awareness of the beloved's vulnerability and the deep connection between them.

The speaker expresses a longing to connect with the beloved physically: "I would touch you, / that pulse brooding under your Madras shirt." The description of the beloved's body is tender and intimate, highlighting the speaker's deep affection and desire to protect. The "arms, thin birches that do not escape the breeze" suggest fragility, while the "white teeth that have known me" evoke a sense of familiarity and shared history. The image of the "tongue, my little fish" is playful yet tender, emphasizing the intimacy between the speaker and the beloved.

However, the speaker is confronted with the reality that "you are stopped in time." This phrase introduces a sense of stasis or pause, as if the beloved is momentarily unreachable or distant. The speaker shifts focus to the beloved's eyes, which are "closed." The eyes, typically windows to the soul, are now "tough as riding boots," emphasizing their inaccessibility. The speaker questions the whereabouts of the beloved's "stubborn-colored iris" and "quick pupils," which once had the power to make "the floor tilt under me." The closed eyes signify a withdrawal or retreat, leaving the speaker in a state of longing and uncertainty.

The speaker reflects on the various ways the beloved's eyes have been "ruined with mercy and lust," and once, with the experience of "your own death / when you lay bubbling like a caught fish, / sucking on the manufactured oxygen." This moment of near-death or deep suffering introduces a darker element to the poem, suggesting that the beloved has endured significant pain or trauma. The speaker's memories of this event are haunting, reinforcing the deep emotional bond between them.

The poem then returns to the present, where the speaker's love is described as twisting them like "a Spanish flute plays in my blood." This image conveys a sense of passion and intensity, yet also a certain helplessness, as the speaker is caught in the grip of their emotions. The speaker is painfully aware of the beloved's proximity to the "hateful animal," the dog, whom the speaker envies "like a thief." This envy reveals the speaker's fear of losing the beloved's attention or affection, as the dog seems to occupy a place of comfort and intimacy that the speaker longs to reclaim.

The poem shifts again, imagining the moment when the beloved's eyes will open "against the wool stink of her thick hair." The speaker anticipates this moment with both hope and dread, wondering what the beloved will say or if the eyes will "say nothing," perhaps remaining "dark and leaden." The speaker's uncertainty about the beloved's response reflects the complexity of their relationship, where love is mixed with fear and doubt.

The closing lines of the poem bring the focus back to the speaker's internal struggle. The speaker imagines different scenarios—turning "like a little dancer" when the beloved's eyes open, or being "bound to some mother/father," indicating a deep, almost primal connection to the beloved's gaze. The speaker contemplates the possibility of forgetting their own voice and identity in the presence of the beloved, losing themselves in the moment.

The final image of the speaker crouching down to "put my cheek near you" and "accepting this spayed and flatulent bitch you hold" is one of surrender and acceptance. The speaker resigns themselves to the situation, choosing to share in the tenderness between the beloved and the dog, despite the underlying tension. The act of resting the face "in an assembled tenderness / on the old dog's neck" suggests a moment of reconciliation, where the speaker finds solace in the simple act of closeness, even if it means sharing that space with another.

In "Your Face on the Dog's Neck," Anne Sexton masterfully weaves together themes of love, envy, and the passage of time, creating a deeply emotional and introspective narrative. The poem captures the complexities of human relationships, where intimacy is often accompanied by vulnerability and fear. Through rich, evocative imagery and a confessional tone, Sexton explores the depths of connection and the delicate balance between holding on and letting go.

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