Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton’s "O Ye Tongues" is a sweeping meditation on creation, spirituality, and the human condition, drawing from the rich tradition of psalmic poetry. Through ten distinct psalms, the poem explores themes of divinity, life’s cycles, human frailty, and the intricate dance between the sacred and the mundane.

The poem begins with a creation narrative, where God is depicted as an artist, crafting the world with deliberate intention. This divine creativity is imbued with a sense of playfulness—"Let there be a God as large as a sunlamp to laugh his heat at you"—suggesting a deity who is both omnipotent and intimately involved in the fabric of creation. The vivid imagery of the "earth with a form like a jigsaw" and the "heaven of jelly rolls and babies laughing" conveys a world that is at once complex and joyous, full of life’s paradoxes and delights.

Sexton’s use of repetition, particularly the phrase "Let there be," mirrors the Biblical creation story, but with a modern, almost whimsical twist. The poem’s God is not just the creator of light and dark but also the provider of everyday comforts—dry land for drying toes, seasons for learning the architecture of the sky, and even the simple pleasure of a "Cannon towel." This blending of the sacred and the ordinary reflects Sexton’s view of a world where divinity permeates all aspects of life, from the grandest celestial events to the most mundane human experiences.

As the poem progresses, the focus shifts from creation to a more personal and introspective exploration of faith and human frailty. The Second Psalm introduces a more confessional tone, where the speaker prays for forgiveness and understanding. Here, Sexton’s characteristic wit and irony shine through, as she prays for everything from the blessing of "Dalmatians that jump like sun spots" to the hope that "my typewriter, ever faithful, will not break." This mix of the profound and the trivial underscores the complexity of human desires and the struggle to reconcile spiritual aspirations with everyday concerns.

The psalms that follow continue this exploration of the human condition, with a particular emphasis on the themes of birth, death, and resurrection. In the Fourth Psalm, Sexton delves into her own origin story, recounting her birth as an "orphan with two death masks on the mantel" and her early years swaddled in "grease wool from my father's company." This section of the poem is rich with the imagery of confinement and release, as the speaker navigates the boundaries of her existence, both physical and psychological.

Sexton’s use of imagery throughout the poem is both vivid and surreal, often blurring the lines between the natural and the supernatural. In the Fifth Psalm, for example, she describes a parade of animals, each symbolizing different aspects of the human experience—from the "daisy who opens like a hand and wants to be counted" to the "squid who will come bringing his poison to wash over the Lord like melted licorice." These images evoke a sense of wonder and awe, but also a recognition of the darker, more troubling aspects of existence.

The final psalms of the poem bring the themes of creation and destruction full circle, as Sexton reflects on the cyclical nature of life and death. The Ninth Psalm, in particular, is a powerful meditation on mortality, where even the most ordinary objects—a basketball, a lemon peel, an ice cube—become vessels of praise and symbols of the fleeting nature of life. The poem ends on a note of acceptance, as the speaker acknowledges the inevitability of death but also the enduring presence of God’s "sunlamp," a symbol of divine warmth and light that continues to shine, even in the face of darkness.

"O Ye Tongues" is a complex and multifaceted work that weaves together elements of creation, confession, and contemplation. Through its vivid imagery and intricate structure, the poem invites readers to consider the relationship between the sacred and the mundane, the divine and the human. Sexton’s playful yet profound exploration of these themes offers a unique perspective on the nature of existence, one that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

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