Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton’s "Red Roses" is a poignant and harrowing exploration of child abuse, viewed through the lens of a three-year-old boy named Tommy. The poem, written with Sexton’s characteristic rawness and emotional intensity, lays bare the tragic reality of domestic violence while simultaneously revealing the complex psychological dynamics at play between victim and abuser. Through the use of stark imagery and unsettling metaphors, Sexton paints a chilling portrait of a child’s attempt to rationalize and survive the trauma inflicted upon him by the very person meant to protect and nurture him.

The poem opens with a seemingly innocent and even tender image: "Tommy is three and when he's bad / his mother dances with him." This initial depiction of mother and son dancing suggests a moment of connection and care. However, the poem quickly subverts this expectation as the "dance" is revealed to be a euphemism for the physical abuse Tommy endures. The mother, referred to in the poem as "Blue Lady," uses the song "Red Roses for a Blue Lady" as the backdrop for her violent outbursts, hurling Tommy across the room under the guise of playfulness. The metaphor of dancing here becomes a sinister mask for the brutality of the mother’s actions.

Sexton’s choice of language emphasizes the dissonance between the mother’s intentions and the reality of her actions. She "never laid a hand on him," the poem insists, yet it is the "wall [that] laid a hand on him." This denial of direct violence reflects the mother's possible self-delusion or rationalization of her behavior, where she might believe that since she does not strike her child with her hands, she is not truly harming him. This distancing from the act of violence underscores the tragic irony of the situation: the mother absolves herself of guilt while inflicting severe physical and emotional harm on her child.

The physical consequences of this "dance" are described with vivid and disturbing imagery: "He gets red roses in different places," a line that juxtaposes the beauty and romantic connotations of roses with the ugly reality of bruises and injuries. The "red roses" mark various parts of Tommy’s body—his head, back, arm, and leg—each described in a manner that conveys both the physical pain and the emotional confusion he experiences. The comparison of Tommy to a "broken scarecrow" and his leg to "a licorice stick" twisted out of shape highlights the severity of the abuse, reducing his small, vulnerable body to something dehumanized and objectified, like a doll or toy.

Tommy’s coping mechanism is to internalize the narrative his mother feeds him: "You fell, she said, just remember you fell." This line is repeated and reinforced when Tommy interacts with the doctors and a "nice lady" in the hospital, who try to uncover the truth of his injuries. Despite being capable of speech, Tommy chooses silence and compliance, repeating the lie that he "fell" to protect his mother and avoid being "sent away." This behavior illustrates the deep psychological bond and loyalty Tommy feels towards his abuser, a common and tragic aspect of abusive relationships where the victim, especially a child, may cling to the love and approval of the abuser despite the harm being done.

The poem’s conclusion is perhaps the most haunting, as it delves into Tommy’s internalization of his abuse. He "pretends he is her ball," trying to "fold up and bounce" but ultimately "squashes like fruit." This metaphor speaks to the crushing effect of the abuse on Tommy’s spirit and identity; he attempts to become what his mother wants—a compliant, silent object of her aggression—but finds himself unable to withstand the emotional and physical weight of her violence. Yet, in a heartbreaking twist, Tommy continues to "love Blue Lady and the spots / of red red roses he gives her." This line encapsulates the tragic complexity of the child’s love for his mother, a love that is entangled with pain, fear, and a desperate need for affection, no matter how twisted its expression.

"Red Roses" is a powerful commentary on the cycle of abuse and the devastating impact it has on the most innocent and vulnerable. Sexton’s portrayal of Tommy is both heartbreaking and deeply empathetic, as she captures the confusion, fear, and misplaced loyalty that often characterize the experiences of abused children. Through this poem, Sexton not only highlights the physical and emotional scars left by domestic violence but also calls attention to the often unseen and unspoken suffering that occurs behind closed doors, urging readers to recognize and confront these harsh realities.

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