Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Keeping the City," Anne Sexton grapples with themes of protection, helplessness, and the complex interplay between human agency and divine intervention. The poem, referencing John F. Kennedy’s unspoken words in Dallas on November 23, 1963, takes on a poignant tone, exploring the speaker's role as a watchman over a city that she seems both connected to and distant from. The poem is steeped in a sense of responsibility, as well as the anxiety of knowing that certain outcomes are beyond one's control.

The poem begins with an intimate memory, "head on your chest," where the speaker listens intently, hearing "wings battering up the place," a metaphor for inner turmoil or struggle. This imagery evokes a sense of something trapped or yearning to escape, akin to a bird caught in a cage, desperate to break free. The speaker, in this moment, assumes the role of the watchman, silently vigilant, attentive to the subtle signs of distress but unsure of how to intervene.

The metaphor of the bird, struggling within, extends to describe the person the speaker watches over—perhaps a loved one, or metaphorically, the "city" itself. This bird is described as having "twelve tongues and twelve wings," a mystical, almost divine image, suggesting a profound inner complexity and turmoil. The bird’s struggle is connected to breaking free from "childhood," described as an "airless net," a stifling, restrictive force. This struggle is a personal, almost sacred battle, one that the speaker feels she can only observe from a distance, powerless to assist.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the distance that has grown between herself and this person (or city). Despite the physical miles that separate them, the emotional connection remains intense, with the speaker still feeling as though her "head on your chest" could somehow help or at least bear witness to the ongoing internal battle. Yet, she acknowledges her helplessness, "could do nothing but guard the city lest it break." The repeated emphasis on silence—her own and that of the Lord—underscores the theme of isolation and the limits of human intervention.

The poem also reflects on the notion of divine protection, with the invocation of the Lord who "was silent too." The reference to the biblical idea that "unless the Lord keepeth the city, the watchman guardeth in vain" adds a layer of existential uncertainty. The speaker does not know if divine intervention will preserve the person or the city she cares for, and her role as a watchman seems futile in the grander scheme of things. The Lord’s silence becomes a powerful metaphor for the unpredictability of life and the limitations of both human and divine agency.

The imagery of the bird continues to dominate, as the speaker desires the bird to "fly, burst like a missile from your throat," to escape the constraints of its past, symbolized by "the spidery-mother-web" and "Woman herself." This suggests that the struggle is not just personal but also connected to broader societal or existential forces—perhaps the expectations and limitations imposed by society, gender, or history. The bird's struggle is both a personal and a universal battle against these forces.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the nature of the city, "the city of my choice that I guard like a butterfly," which shifts and rebuilds itself continuously. The watchman’s role, though well-intentioned, is ultimately "useless, useless"—a poignant admission of the limitations of her vigilance. The city, symbolizing the person or the broader world, is in constant flux, and the watchman’s attempts to protect it are fraught with uncertainty. The final lines question the effectiveness of both human and divine guardianship: "And The Lord — who knows what he keepeth?"

"Keeping the City" is a meditation on the paradox of care and control, where the speaker’s love and vigilance are met with the harsh reality of her powerlessness. The poem poignantly captures the tension between the desire to protect and the recognition that some forces are beyond one's control, leaving the speaker, and perhaps the reader, to grapple with the unsettling truth that not all struggles can be won, and not all cities can be saved.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...