Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Angel of Hope and Calendars," the fourth section of Anne Sexton’s "Angels of the Love Affair", the poet delves into the harrowing experience of despair, juxtaposing it with the concepts of hope and the passage of time, symbolized by the angel. Throughout the poem, Sexton portrays despair as a deep, isolating hole, a place devoid of redemption or solace, where time seems to stand still, and all hope is extinguished.

The poem opens with the speaker directly addressing the "Angel of hope and calendars," questioning if this angel—who represents the passage of time and the potential for renewal—can understand the depths of despair: "Angel of hope and calendars, do you know despair?" This question sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker vividly describes the suffocating and relentless nature of despair, a state that seems to nullify the very concepts the angel embodies.

Sexton uses visceral imagery to convey the inescapable and degrading nature of despair. The speaker describes it as "that hole I crawl into with a box of Kleenex," a space associated with sadness and vulnerability. The "fire woman" tied to her chair within this hole symbolizes a figure of power and energy now rendered powerless, restrained by the overwhelming force of despair. The "leather men wringing their necks" evokes a sense of violence and self-destruction, further emphasizing the bleakness of the scene.

The transformation of the sea into "a pond of urine" reflects the corruption of something vast and life-giving into something stagnant and foul. The absence of "marine beings to stir in" suggests that life itself has been drained from this space, leaving only death and decay. The imagery is both grotesque and poignant, underlining the extent to which despair distorts and destroys the natural order.

Sexton deepens the sense of personal and familial anguish by introducing the speaker's parents: "Your mother is crying out each day. / Your father is eating cake and digging her grave." The mother’s constant crying signals ongoing suffering, while the father’s simultaneous indulgence in cake and the grim task of grave-digging highlights a disturbing juxtaposition of life’s simple pleasures with the inevitability of death. This duality reflects the often disjointed experience of despair, where normalcy and horror coexist uneasily.

The depiction of the speaker’s baby "strangling" in this hole suggests a loss of innocence and hope, as the natural bond of life—represented by the baby—is choked by the oppressive force of despair. The speaker's own body is similarly afflicted: "Your mouth is clay. / Your eyes are made of glass. They break." These lines suggest a total loss of vitality and expression; the mouth, a symbol of speech and life, has turned to lifeless clay, and the eyes, typically windows to the soul, are fragile and easily shattered.

The recurring imagery of breaking—glass eyes, shattered voice—serves to emphasize the disintegration of the self within the space of despair. The speaker’s isolation is underscored by the comparison to "a dog in a kennel," a creature confined and alone, unable to escape. The physical torment continues with "boils" on the hands and arms "cut and bound by bands of wire," suggesting both internal and external suffering that is relentless and unyielding.

The final lines of the poem starkly conclude that within this hole of despair, "There are no prayers here. Here there is no change." This statement underscores the hopelessness that defines despair, a place where time, symbolized by the calendar, is irrelevant because nothing ever changes. The absence of prayers suggests a loss of faith or the sense that divine intervention is impossible in such a state.

Through "Angel of Hope and Calendars," Sexton poignantly portrays despair as a force that consumes and immobilizes, rendering time meaningless and hope unattainable. The angel, traditionally a symbol of guidance and protection, seems powerless against the overwhelming darkness of despair, leaving the speaker trapped in a static and desolate existence. The poem's raw imagery and intense emotional depth offer a powerful exploration of the human condition, particularly the struggle to find meaning and hope in the face of overwhelming despair.

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