8 Comments
User's avatar
Rina Anshina's avatar

Something about post second war Japanese photographers. They seem to be able to capture the grit and grime of life in all of its profanity. Goes really well with this poem.

Expand full comment
Mark's avatar

Brutal yet understated. Raw but honest.

Piece needs a better title, imo.

Expand full comment
David's avatar

amen to all written here

Expand full comment
Leo Mondor's avatar

The title references Red Ingle's 1948 song, 'Cigarettes, Whuskey, and Wild, Wwild Women.'

https://youtu.be/XJmR3DVKsSI

Expand full comment
Lononaut's avatar

A fine example of confessional poetry, but one that remains difficult to read if you know about Sexton's life and death.

Expand full comment
Pamela Daley's avatar

Yes. And yet - so drawn to her poetry!

Expand full comment
Allan English's avatar

born expecting the kiss of mercy, just keeps cycling through my mind

Expand full comment
Kerry Bart-Raber's avatar

Wow , this morning I glanced at my stacks of books and thought oh Anne Sexton is safe she’s in the middle in the back , on top of all the others ... that and my copy of Rilke , something happened to my book about Paula M- Becker however- I m pretty sure since I had memorized it- I gave it to someone I thought it would inspire. Thank you - have a great thought filled weekend!

Expand full comment