Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton's poem "The Horoscope Poems: February 21st" explores the complexity of a long-term relationship, particularly the tension between unity and conflict, love and violence. The poem is framed by the horoscope’s suggestion that the day is "favorable for teamwork," a notion that is both ironic and poignant given the underlying turmoil in the speaker's marriage. Through vivid imagery and a raw, confessional tone, Sexton delves into the emotional landscape of a relationship that has become fraught with strife and disillusionment.

The poem opens with a seemingly serene image of a photograph where the speaker and her husband "smile / at each other, dark head to light head." This photograph, a symbol of the couple's past happiness and unity, "sits on my desk," representing a constant reminder of what once was. However, the fact that it "lay unkissed all week" indicates a growing distance, both emotional and physical, between the speaker and her husband. The photograph, once a cherished memento, now serves as a silent witness to the erosion of their connection.

The mention of the photograph walking "up the aisle" for the "twenty-three years" of their marriage, and continuing "onward into Carolina, cheek to cheek," captures the passage of time and the journey they have shared together. Yet, this journey, once intimate and filled with promise, has led to a present filled with conflict. The phrase "cheek to cheek," often associated with closeness, now carries an undertone of confrontation, suggesting that their proximity has become a source of tension rather than comfort.

The speaker then addresses her husband directly, calling him a "mad hammer" and a "man of force." These descriptions evoke a sense of aggression and power, highlighting the dominating and perhaps destructive influence he has had in the relationship. The declaration "This last week has been our divorce" starkly contrasts with the horoscope’s optimistic message about teamwork, revealing the deep rift that has developed between them. The use of the word "divorce" here may be metaphorical, indicating a profound emotional separation rather than a legal dissolution of marriage.

Sexton’s exploration of the speaker’s identity is further complicated by the lines "I'm not a war baby. I'm a baby / at war." This juxtaposition of innocence ("baby") with conflict ("war") captures the speaker’s sense of being caught in a battle she did not choose, yet must endure. The metaphor of "thumbs grow into my throat" conveys a suffocating pressure, possibly the result of the husband’s overpowering presence or the emotional strain of the marriage. The image of wearing "slaps like a spot of rouge" further emphasizes the violence within the relationship, where even acts of aggression are internalized and normalized, almost like a cosmetic application that masks the deeper wounds.

The poem’s exploration of identity and victimization continues with the rhetorical questions: "Woodsman, who made me into your tree? / Drowner, who made me into your boat?" These questions suggest that the speaker feels transformed and objectified by her husband, shaped into roles she did not choose. The woodsman and the drowner, figures associated with control and destruction, have imposed identities upon her, turning her into a "tree" and a "boat"—symbols of strength and utility, but also of vulnerability and objectification. The speaker’s sense of self has been eroded, reduced to roles defined by her husband’s needs and actions.

As the poem draws to a close, the speaker acknowledges the emotional turmoil that has come over the relationship: "Lover, I feel a darkness, I feel a fugue / come over us." The word "fugue" suggests a state of disconnection and confusion, a psychological state where identity and reality blur. The darkness represents the growing distance and despair that now define their relationship. The photograph, once a symbol of love, now presides over this dance of conflict, as the couple engages in "the karate, the mad burlesque." These final images evoke a sense of chaos and absurdity, where their interactions have become a violent and grotesque performance rather than a partnership.

"The Horoscope Poems: February 21st" is a powerful exploration of the complexities of love, marriage, and identity. Through her evocative language and stark imagery, Anne Sexton captures the emotional and psychological tension within a relationship that has deteriorated over time. The poem reveals the speaker’s struggle to reconcile the past with the present, the image of love with the reality of conflict, and her own identity within the confines of a troubled marriage. It serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between unity and separation, and the ways in which relationships can both define and destroy us.

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