Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton's poem "The Bells" captures a poignant recollection of childhood, blending nostalgia with the faint, haunting echoes of the past. The poem reflects on a time when the innocence and wonder of youth were intact, and the bond between the speaker and her father provided a sense of security amidst the thrilling yet dangerous world of the circus.

The opening lines set a tone of faded memories: "Today the circus poster / is scabbing off the concrete wall / and the children have forgotten / if they knew at all." The image of the circus poster peeling away from the wall symbolizes the erosion of memory, the inevitable passage of time that dulls even the most vivid experiences. The mention of children forgetting hints at a universal truth: that the enchantments of childhood often vanish as one grows older, leaving only fragments behind.

The poem then turns to the figure of the father, asking, "Father, do you remember?" This question not only reflects the speaker's desire to reconnect with those shared memories but also suggests a yearning for the comfort and protection that the father once provided. The "distant thump of the good elephants" and the "voice of the ancient lions" evoke the sensory experiences of the circus, but it is "the sound" that remains most powerful—the sound of the bells, which "trembled for the flying man."

In this memory, the speaker recalls being lifted to her father's shoulder or standing "small at the rough legs of strangers," yet she was "not afraid." The father's presence, his hand holding hers, provided an anchor of safety amidst the chaotic and potentially frightening environment of the circus. The "three rings of danger" are mentioned, but they seem less menacing with the father's steady guidance.

The poem's imagery shifts to the "naughty clown" and the "wild parade," where "love love / love grew rings around me." Here, the repetition of "love" emphasizes the enveloping nature of the father's care, which grew like protective rings around the speaker. The circus, with all its spectacle and excitement, becomes a metaphor for life itself—full of risks, wonders, and the need for reassurance. The father's love is what allowed the speaker to face the "three rings of danger" with confidence.

The climax of the poem comes with the memory of watching "the flying man breast out / across the boarded sky / and climb the air." This figure, the flying man, represents a transcendent moment, an embodiment of grace and daring that captures the imagination. The speaker remembers not just the visual spectacle but "the color of music," suggesting that the experience was so vivid and multi-sensory that it transcended ordinary perception.

The final lines, "and how forever / all the trembling bells of you / were mine," encapsulate the enduring impact of these memories. The "trembling bells" symbolize the father's love and the security it provided, a sound that resonates within the speaker even as time passes. The use of "forever" suggests that this bond, this sense of safety and wonder, is eternal, carried within the speaker's heart long after the actual circus and the father’s presence have faded.

"The Bells" is a delicate, emotionally rich poem that reflects Anne Sexton's ability to weave personal memories with universal themes of love, protection, and the inevitable loss of innocence. Through the lens of the circus, Sexton explores the power of parental love to shield and nurture, even as it also confronts the reality that such protection cannot last forever. The poem leaves us with a lingering sense of both the beauty and the fragility of childhood, encapsulated in the enduring sound of those trembling bells.

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