Ghosts - A poem by Anne Sexton

Anne Sexton - Ghosts

Some ghosts are women,
neither abstract nor pale,
their breasts as limp as killed fish.
Not witches, but ghosts
who come, moving their useless arms
like forsaken servants.

Not all ghosts are women,
I have seen others;
fat, white-bellied men,
wearing their genitals like old rags.
Not devils, but ghosts.
This one thumps barefoot, lurching
above my bed.

But that isn't all.
Some ghosts are children.
Not angels, but ghosts;
curling like pink tea cups
on any pillow, or kicking,
showing their innocent bottoms, wailing
for Lucifer.

Added: on April 20th, 2006 at 11:10 AM | Viewed: 8395 times | Comments and analysis of Ghosts by Anne Sexton Comments (10)

Ghosts - Comments and Information
Poet: Anne Sexton Poem: Ghosts Comment 10 of 10, added on April 23rd, 2006 at 4:30 PM. This poem shows there is no other way to describe ghost but by using the word GHOST. It tells the reader that they can not be compared to angels or demons. Not only that but it also emphasizes that ghost can be of any shape and of any age...no restrictions... JOY from United States Comment 9 of 10, added on April 22nd, 2006 at 2:49 PM. I'm fourteen and even though I'm forced to look up friendly critizisum for my College English 1 course, I have become fond of Anne Sexton, for I too write poetry. Figurelogics from United States Comment 8 of 10, added on April 20th, 2006 at 11:10 AM. Ghosts are shells of humans that once were. The human that she once was is “lurching above [her] bed” I feel she is desperate for a fulfillment, but she knows that she is not the only one suffering. “Not all ghosts are women.” Yes she was abused as a child and that defiantly influences her writing, but I don’t think that it is directly related to this poem. She knows that people are weary and sad about life. They are “not witches […] not devils […] not angels, but ghosts.” These beings no longer have power. They just float around, empty of satisfaction “wailing for Lucifer” to take their souls so they can have life back. They would sacrifice their souls to an eternity of hell to live again now. Ann from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Ghosts, has received 10 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Anne Sexton with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Anne Sexton Poem: Ghosts Last read: May 17 2008, 11:24AM Viewed 8395 times. Added on April 20th, 2006 at 11:10 AM.

Sexton Info
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