Anne Sexton's poem "Starry Night" is a powerful and evocative contemplation on the beauty and mystery of the night sky. Through her use of vivid imagery and figurative language, Sexton captures the awe-inspiring majesty of the stars and the profound sense of wonder they inspire in the human soul.
In the opening lines of the poem, Sexton describes the stars as "white and black holes / in the sky," a metaphor that highlights the duality of the celestial bodies. On the one hand, the stars are dazzling and luminous, shining with an otherworldly radiance that captures the imagination and fills the viewer with a sense of awe. On the other hand, the stars are also mysterious and unknowable, vast and unfathomable, like black holes that draw us in and hold us in thrall.
Throughout the poem, Sexton uses a variety of literary devices to convey the sense of mystery and wonder that surrounds the stars. For example, she employs personification, describing the stars as "shining madly" and "dancing" in the sky. This imbues the stars with a sense of vitality and life, as if they are living, breathing entities that are actively participating in the cosmic dance.
Sexton also makes use of repetition and alliteration, repeating the phrase "the stars" and using alliterative phrases like "silent sentinels" and "shining madly" to emphasize the grandeur and majesty of the night sky. This repetition helps to build a sense of rhythm and flow, drawing the reader into the poem and immersing them in the experience of gazing up at the stars.
One of the most striking aspects of "Starry Night" is the way Sexton uses imagery to convey the vastness and complexity of the universe. She describes the stars as "a million million people" and "a million million cells," emphasizing the sheer scale of the cosmos and the endless expanse of space. At the same time, she also speaks of the stars as "a great spiderweb," hinting at the interconnectedness and interdependence of all things in the universe.
Overall, "Starry Night" is a beautifully written and deeply moving meditation on the beauty and mystery of the night sky. Through her use of vivid imagery and figurative language, Sexton captures the awe-inspiring majesty of the stars and the profound sense of wonder they inspire in the human soul.