Conversations with Plath

Conversations with Plath

 

 

 

Sylvia and I talked in my sleep

she encouraged me

to not be so hard on Ted,

 

she posed that he just didn't understand

his effect on women,

and his thoughtlessness was unintended

 

he had no idea, except with poetry

brilliant she told me, brilliant

she loved his work far beyond loving him

 

"do not be so hard on the b*****d,"

she reproached

the man was genius,

absolute genius

she said she kissed the ground he walked on

until he betrayed her

 

then, she wanted to put him in the ground

but not his poetry...

she wanted to live with that till death do them part

 

she added to the sign on her cottage

that said "Yeats lived here"

under that she wrote "Hughes did not"

she cried for her babies

she cried for her suicides

she wept for her failed marriage

she exploded on the page

 

her pinnacle just as the end

rolled downhill toward her

gaining momentum

 

she told me not to be so hard on Ted

she handed me his book "Birthday Letters"

and said, "Don't you see how he loved me?"

 

I blinked away tears

I handed her some wet towels

she took me under her wing

 

we wrote poetry

and then died that day.

 

I am still hard on Ted.

 

 

erin-cilberto

9/3/22

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Sylvia made me sad. She sought the kiss of death. Today I understand her words. I am a old man and wasn't for the grandchildren. I understand Hemingway ways. Thank you Jacob for sharing the outstanding poetry my friend.
Coyote

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for understanding, Coyote,
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome Jacob.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Some of the great poetry ever written comes from the darkest places of an artist's heart. Whether by intention or not they reveal the most human aspects of us all. The frailties of our hearts, failures, and strength we love to a fault. This impactful piece speaks to that nature. A very strong piece of writing my friend.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your very kind review, Carlos,
j.

[Nima.Hope]

In Persian literature, Forough Farrokhzad and Ebrahim Golestan have almost the same story between Plath and Hughes. Forough one time sucided from the bad way Golestan treated her but she was rescued and died in an accident later. I always took Forough's side like you do about Plath.
A good write Jacob.
You may want to read some Forough Farrokhzad's poems(translated), I'm sure you'll enjoy them.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, very much the same..I may check out those poems...thank you, Nima,
j.

[supernova_thoughts]

Its saddening for a great artist, however, we celebrate her for her last days. That was the birth time of her great works.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, she was writing her best stuff towards the end.
thank you, super,
j.

[John the Baptist]

Great poets are not always nice people. Ted Hughes was an example. Of course, sometimes we get what we subconsciously ask for. Sylvia Plath had some "Daddy" issues. I've read that her father inspired "Panzer Man." Maybe somewhere in her consciousness she believed she deserved a guy like Ted.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I feel that you are accurate with that statement...she was always playing that role with her father, with Ted...always the one who played the part she thought she was meant to play...her writing said otherwise.
thank you, John,
j.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

“Sylvia and I talked in my sleep”

“ we wrote poetry
and then died that day.”

She would have talked to you Jacob, and then maybe her life would have turned out better. She would have commiserated with you like she does now. I think you could have saved her. Master Class poem, straight from the authentic heart. She agrees.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I might hope we could have talked...but I doubt anyone was going to talk her down from doing what she thought was her "art"...as she said, "dying is an art, like everything else I do it exceptionally well."
thank you for the very kind words, Annette,
j.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

A wonderful insight on how hard it is to not love someone that did you wrong.
an exceptional piece of writing.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your words, Dale,
j.

[W. Barrett Munn]

Occasionally on this site a poem is posted that makes me feel totally inadequate as a writer; this poem is one of those. Splendid work, Jacob. And I am not a fan of Plath.

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

You inadequate? Absolutely no way that is true.

But thank you for your kind words,read moreYou inadequate? Absolutely no way that is true.

But thank you for your kind words,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Soft on Sylvia, hard on Ted. Not just you J, but me too. I am loving this conversation.

'do not be so hard on the b*****d'

Well he was, wasn't he? Although he was a great poet, when it came to his women he was positively lacking big time. I have Birthday Letters, I must revisit. I am enjoying your recent Plath poems, this is the best yet. It's a fav.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind review, Chris,
j.

[Ken e Bujold]

just a thought Jacob, if and when this debate dies down, drop me a note and we can see if we can fire up another poetic conflab...I know plenty of warring poets, as I am sure you do as well...:)

[Ken e Bujold]

A lovely poem rendered with honesty I appreciate. Well written Jacob

Ken e

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Ken,
j.