Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton's poem "The Fury of Sunsets" delves into the existential reflection that often accompanies the end of a day. As the sun sets, marking the close of another day, the speaker is left contemplating the transient nature of life, the purpose of existence, and the unsettling sense of impermanence that comes with the fading light. Through her characteristic use of vivid imagery and introspective questioning, Sexton captures the melancholy and introspection that often accompanies the twilight hours.

The poem opens with an immediate sense of foreboding: "Something / cold is in the air, / an aura of ice / and phlegm." This chilling description sets the tone for the rest of the poem, suggesting not just a physical coldness, but an emotional or existential one. The use of "ice" and "phlegm" evokes a sense of discomfort, unease, and perhaps even a feeling of sickness or decay, hinting at the inevitable decline that comes with the end of the day.

As the sun begins to set, the speaker reflects on the day that has passed: "All day I've built / a lifetime and now / the sun sinks to / undo it." This line poignantly captures the fleeting nature of time and the effort we put into our daily lives, only to see it undone as night falls. The metaphor of building a lifetime in a single day underscores the sense of impermanence and the futility of human endeavors in the grand scheme of things. The sun's sinking represents the end of this cycle, a force beyond control that "undoes" the work of the day, leaving the speaker with a sense of loss and reflection.

The imagery of the horizon as it "bleeds / and sucks its thumb" adds a layer of vulnerability to the scene. The horizon is personified as something wounded, bleeding as it swallows the sun—a "little red thumb" that eventually "goes out of sight." This image of the sun as a thumb being sucked away into the horizon evokes a sense of regression, as if the day is retreating into itself, returning to a state of innocence or infancy before disappearing entirely. This retreating light leaves the speaker in a contemplative state, wondering about "this lifetime with myself, / this dream I'm living."

The poem's introspective turn comes as the speaker confronts the fundamental questions of existence: "why am I here? / why do I live in this house? / who's responsible?" These questions are simple yet profound, touching on the core of human existence—the search for meaning, purpose, and accountability. The speaker's desire to "ask the first star" highlights the timelessness and universality of these questions, as well as the speaker's longing for answers from something beyond themselves, something eternal and constant in the face of the day's end.

The poem closes with the interrogative "eh?"—a small, almost dismissive sound that captures the speaker's resignation and perhaps even frustration with the lack of clear answers. It leaves the reader with a sense of unresolved tension, mirroring the unresolved nature of the speaker's own existential questioning.

"The Fury of Sunsets" is a powerful exploration of the feelings of impermanence, uncertainty, and introspection that often accompany the end of the day. Anne Sexton uses the imagery of the setting sun and the fading day to evoke a sense of loss and the passage of time, while also delving into the deeper existential questions that arise when one is confronted with the closing of a day, and by extension, the closing of life itself. Through her evocative language and poignant reflections, Sexton invites the reader to consider their own relationship with time, purpose, and the inevitable approach of night.

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