Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton's poem "The Fury of Rainstorms" is a brief yet powerful meditation on the overwhelming and relentless nature of depression, which the poet likens to the persistent, almost violent drumming of rain. Through vivid and unsettling imagery, Sexton captures the sensation of being bombarded by a force that is both external and internal, reflecting the intense emotional pain that often accompanies depressive episodes.

The poem opens with the striking metaphor of rain falling "like red ants," each drop "bouncing off" the window with a sense of urgency and pain. The comparison of raindrops to ants, particularly red ants known for their painful bites, immediately sets a tone of discomfort and unease. These raindrops are not simply falling; they are "in great pain," crying out as they hit the window. This personification of the rain as suffering beings with "little legs" and "heads pasted" on evokes a sense of fragility and the impression that these creatures are barely holding together, much like someone in the throes of depression.

Sexton then connects this image of suffering rain to the idea of the grave—"so humble, so willing to be beat upon." The grave, a symbol of finality and death, is portrayed as passive, accepting the relentless beating of the rain with a kind of quiet resignation. The "awful lettering" on the tombstone and the body "lying underneath / without an umbrella" further emphasize the vulnerability and helplessness associated with both death and depression. The absence of an umbrella, typically a protective barrier, suggests that there is no defense against the emotional onslaught of depression; one is exposed and unprotected against the elements.

The poet's reflection on depression as "boring" introduces a tone of weary resignation. This remark underscores the repetitive, monotonous nature of depression, which can feel like an endless cycle of gray, numbing emotions. However, there is also a hint of defiance in this line, as if the speaker is pushing back against the all-consuming nature of their depression by reducing it to something dull and uninspiring.

The poem closes with a pragmatic turn: "and I would do better to make / some soup and light up the cave." This shift from the dark, rain-soaked imagery to the mundane acts of making soup and lighting a fire represents a small but significant attempt at self-care, a way of finding comfort and warmth in the face of overwhelming despair. The "cave" can be seen as a metaphor for the speaker's mind, a place of retreat where they seek solace from the storm outside. By "lighting up the cave," the speaker is choosing to create a small beacon of hope or comfort in the darkness, however fleeting it may be.

In "The Fury of Rainstorms," Anne Sexton masterfully conveys the experience of depression through the metaphor of a relentless, painful rainstorm. The poem’s imagery captures the sense of being overwhelmed by forces beyond one’s control, while the final lines offer a glimpse of resilience, suggesting that even in the depths of despair, there are small actions one can take to resist the pull of darkness. Sexton's exploration of depression in this poem is both deeply personal and universally resonant, offering insight into the ways in which we cope with and push back against the emotional storms that threaten to consume us.

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