Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton’s “The Death of the Fathers: 3. The Boat” is a vivid and symbolic exploration of the intersection between life and death, seen through the lens of a childhood memory. The poem uses the metaphor of a boat ride to convey the precarious balance between safety and danger, innocence and the awareness of mortality, as experienced by the speaker in her youth.

The poem begins with a portrayal of the father, self-identified as an “old sea dog,” a term that conjures an image of a seasoned sailor, someone who is comfortable and confident on the water. His yachting cap and the name of the boat, "Go Too III," suggest a life of leisure and perhaps a legacy of boating, as indicated by the numeral at the end of the boat's name. This idyllic scene, however, quickly gains an undertone of foreboding as the boat speeds out “past Cuckold’s Light,” a name that itself hints at betrayal and danger, into the “dark brainy blue,” where the sea takes on an ominous, intelligent quality.

The speaker, positioned in the “dare seat” at the back of the boat, is clearly aware of the risks inherent in this journey. The orange life jacket she wears is a symbol of both protection and the acknowledgment of danger. The placement of the mother at the front of the boat, her kerchief flapping in the wind, adds to the sense of a family unit on a shared adventure, yet one that is fraught with peril as the waves grow “deep as whales.” The mention of whales—massive, mysterious creatures often associated with the unknown depths of the ocean—serves to amplify the sense of awe and fear.

As the boat begins to navigate increasingly treacherous waves, described as “boulders” and “round buildings,” the speaker’s fear becomes more palpable. The waves are no longer just obstacles; they are forces of nature that could overwhelm them at any moment. The line “I am seven and we are riding to Pemaquid or Spain” reflects the childhood sense of adventure and imagination, where any destination seems possible, yet also underscores the unpredictability of their journey.

The poem reaches its climax as the boat goes “Under. Under. Under.” The repetition of the word “under” emphasizes the moment when the boat is submerged, symbolizing a brush with death. The sea becomes a “green room,” a space where the living and the dead are perilously close. This “pitiless green” is devoid of comfort, keepsakes, or religious solace, a stark contrast to the safety and warmth of home. In this moment, an angel speaks, telling them, “You have no business. No business here.” This divine voice suggests that they have crossed into a realm where they do not belong, a space that is reserved for the dead.

The father’s plea for a sign is answered as “the sky breaks over us,” bringing air, gulls, and the sun back into their world, symbols of life and survival. The imagery here shifts from the threatening to the life-affirming, as the family is pulled back from the brink of death. The final lines, with the three of them “dividing our deaths,” acknowledge that they each faced their mortality, and together they work to “bail the boat” and shut out the “cold wing” of death that had momentarily clasped them.

In “The Death of the Fathers: 3. The Boat,” Sexton masterfully captures the tension between life and death, using the metaphor of a boat ride to explore themes of fear, survival, and the family’s shared experience of confronting the abyss. The poem reflects on the fragility of life and the thin line between adventure and disaster, ultimately suggesting that even in moments of peril, the bonds of family and the will to survive can pull us back from the edge.

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