Anne Sexton - Quando o homem

 

Quando o homem

entra na mulher,

como a onda mordendo a praia,

uma e outra vez,

e a mulher abre a boca de prazer

e os dentes lhe cintilam

como o alfabeto,

aparece Logos

ordenhando uma estrela,

e o homem dá um nó

dentro da mulher

para que nunca mais

se separem

e a mulher sobe para uma flor

e come-lhe o pé

e então aparece Logos

e desprende-lhes os rios.

Esse homem,

essa mulher,

com a sua fome dobrada,

tentaram atravessar

a cortina de Deus,

e conseguiram-no por um instante,

apesar de Deus, perverso,

lhes desfazer o nó.

When man enters woman

When man

enters woman,

like the surf biting the shore,

again and again,

and the woman opens her mouth in pleasure

and her teeth gleam

like the alphabet,

Logos appears milking a star,

and the man

inside of woman

ties a knot

so that they will

never again be separate

and the woman

climbs into a flower

and swallows its stem

and Logos appears

and unleashed their rivers.

This man,

this woman

with their double hunger,

have tried to reach through

the curtain of God

and briefly they have,

though God

in His perversity

unties the knot.

      The poem explores the transformative power of sexual union, depicting it as a sacred act that connects individuals to a higher force. It employs evocative imagery of nature and biblical allusions to convey the intensity and significance of the experience.

      Compared to Sexton's other works, the poem exhibits her confessional style and exploration of female sexuality. It reflects the feminist and anti-establishment themes prevalent in the 1960s, challenging traditional gender roles and societal norms.