I have chosen Anne Sexton's All My Pretty Ones for my individual poetry project.
Sexton was a poet born in the late 1920's who battled severe depression for most of her short life. After getting married and having two children, Sexton began writing poetry at the urging of a physician and discovered a ravishing talent; she was awarded a Pulitzer prize in 1967 and was close friends with Maxine Kumin. They collaborated on several projects, including a few children's books. However, Sexton's success was not enough to quell her unhappiness and she committed suicide (her second attempt in twenty years) in the early 1970's. She was 46 years old.
I chose Sexton in part because I am fascinated with her gorgeous words and in part because I am fascinated with her life and the tragic way in which she lived -- and how all of that suffering informed her art. No matter how strange, there is something alluring about a severely troubled beauty who shares her life so openly with the world.
What would she have become if she had lived? What great works would she have created, what were we robbed of with carbon monoxide and a few sleeping pills?
It is part of that wonder that led me to explore her life and works further. That, and Sexton is so entertaining to read, it almost doesn't feel like work.
Really interesting how you question what could have been has Sexton lived. I think that sometimes that is a way to further explore an author, by questioning what was not done instead of what was, but studying the nonexistence can be troublesome.
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