Dear Mairead,
Yes, I too have always admired Plath's poetry for it's precision and light.
And I think 'The Bell Jar' is an important book. 'Crossing the Water' is my
personal favourite and I can't fault it.
Hugh, myself and others on the list have rightly pointed to the
pretentiousness of some of her work.
But I was interested to be reminded that her work was 'canned' by some even
when first printed. It's almost as if Sylvia was driven back into herself,
made miserable? Given her talent, intensity and attention to form, the
assumption by some that she was a 'gushy' confessional poet must have been
frustrating and depressing.
This poem's beautiful:
Crossing the Water
Black lake, black boat, two black, cut-paper people.
Where do the black trees go that drink here?
Their shadows must cover Canada.
A little light from the water flowers.
Their leaves do not wish us to hurry:
They are round and flat and full of dark advice.
Cold worlds shake from the oar.
The spirit of blackness is in us, it is in the fishes.
A snag is lifting a valedictory, pale hand;
Stars open among the lilies.
Are you not blinded by such expressionless sirens?
This is the silence of astounded souls.
Sylvia PLath, 1962
I recall that the late poet John Forbes once told me that he admired Plath
but 'couldn't learn' from her. I wonder what this means? What do you think?
Yours,
Cassie
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