Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton’s poem "Where It Was At Back Then" is a surreal and intimate exploration of marriage, loss, and the profound connection between two people. Through the dreamlike imagery of dismemberment and reassembly, Sexton delves into the themes of incompleteness, restoration, and the shared experiences that bind a couple together. The poem’s tone is both tender and unsettling, reflecting the complexities of love and the deep emotional interdependence that can exist in a long-term relationship.

The poem opens with a vivid and disturbing image: "Husband, / last night I dreamt / they cut off your hands and feet." This shocking vision immediately sets a tone of vulnerability and fear, as the speaker confronts the imagined mutilation of her partner. The use of the word "Husband" as a repeated address throughout the poem emphasizes the personal and intimate nature of this relationship, underscoring the deep bond between the speaker and her partner.

The husband’s whispered response, "Now we are both incomplete," introduces the idea of shared incompleteness and mutual dependence. This line suggests that the couple’s sense of wholeness is intricately tied to one another; when one is harmed or diminished, the other is equally affected. The concept of being "incomplete" speaks to the existential reality of the human condition, where individuals often seek fulfillment and completion through their relationships with others. In this context, the husband’s dismemberment is not just a physical loss but a symbolic reflection of the emotional and spiritual interdependence that defines their marriage.

The speaker’s response to this dismemberment is one of deep care and nurturing: "I held all four / in my arms like sons and daughters." This line transforms the severed limbs into symbols of familial love and protection, as the speaker cradles them as if they were her own children. The act of holding the limbs "like sons and daughters" highlights the maternal instinct to protect and restore, as well as the idea that the speaker sees her role in the relationship as one of healing and caregiving. The limbs, now reimagined as children, represent the parts of her husband that she must safeguard and ultimately restore.

The ritual of restoration continues as the speaker "bent slowly down / and washed them in magical waters." The act of washing in "magical waters" introduces a mystical or supernatural element to the poem, suggesting that the process of healing and restoration requires something beyond the ordinary—perhaps a kind of spiritual or emotional cleansing. The careful, deliberate nature of this action conveys the speaker’s deep commitment to her partner and her desire to mend what has been broken, both physically and metaphorically.

After the cleansing, the speaker "placed each one / where it belonged on you," effectively reassembling her husband’s body. This act of restoration is described as "a miracle," a word that emphasizes the extraordinary nature of their bond and the speaker’s ability to heal and complete her partner. The reattachment of the limbs symbolizes the restoration of their shared sense of wholeness and the return to a state of balance and unity within the relationship.

The poem concludes with a shared moment of joy: "and we laughed / the laugh of the well-to-do." This laughter, described as the "laugh of the well-to-do," suggests a sense of relief, security, and perhaps even privilege. The phrase implies that, despite the trauma and incompleteness they experienced in the dream, the couple’s bond and mutual care have restored them to a state of prosperity or emotional wealth. The laughter at the end of the poem serves as a release of tension, affirming the resilience of their relationship and their ability to overcome adversity together.

"Where It Was At Back Then" by Anne Sexton is a poignant and surreal exploration of the themes of incompleteness, restoration, and the deep emotional ties that bind a couple together. Through the dreamlike imagery of dismemberment and healing, Sexton captures the complexities of love, the interdependence that can define a marriage, and the profound ways in which partners care for and restore each other. The poem reflects on the shared experiences that shape a relationship, highlighting both the vulnerability and the strength that come from being intimately connected to another person.

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