Confessional poet

A confessional poet traffics in intimate, and perhaps derogatory, information about him or herself, in poems about illness, sexuality, despondence and the like. The Confessionalist label was applied to a number of poets of the 1950s and 1960s, including Robert Lowell, Anne Sexton, and Sylvia Plath. Allen Ginsberg, explained his interpretation of confessional poetry with the following quote from the poem ?Howl?;

Related Topics:
Poem - Confessionalist - 1950s - 1960s - Robert Lowell - Anne Sexton - Sylvia Plath

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

stand before you speechless and intelligent and shaking with shame, rejected yet confessing out the soul to conform to the rhythm of thought in his naked and endless head, . .

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One point worth noting that is specific to confessional poetry is that the 'I' used in the poem directly represents the poet, as opposed to (for example) poetry written in the first person but to represent an event/emotion/etc non-specific (and non-autobiographical) to the author.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Later developments in confessional poetry begin to blur the distinctions between a public and a private activism. Authors like Denise Levertov, Adrienne Rich, and Audre Lorde present personal difficulties in a socio-political context. Lorde's poem, "Coal" reflects on such personal problems within a given cultural context. Also in Levertov's, "Life at War" there is something inextricably personal bound the conflict of the age.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What defines poetry as confessional is not the themes/subject matter, but how the issue represented is explored. Confessional poetry explores personal details about the authors' life without meekness, modesty, or discretion. Because of this, confessional poetry is a popular form of creative writing that many people enjoy not only to read but to embark upon. Another element that is specific to this poetry is self-revelation achieved through creating the poem. This passes on to the reader, and a connection is made. Those who enjoy biographical (and particularly, autobiographical) writing will most likely enjoy confessional poetry.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Poets whose writing is classified as confessional (it could be argued) use writing as an outlet for thier demons. Writing and then re-reading one's work changes the cognitive processes with which one's brain processes this information - it offers perspective. As poet Anne Sexton famously said, "Poetry led me by the hand out of madness."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Since, by defition, confessional poetry is brutally honest, it is usually very emotional. This honesty is boundless and can even be directed at the reader.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Honesty, little slut, must you insist

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:On hearing every dirty word I know

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:And all my worst affairs? Are impotence,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Insanity, and lying what you lust for?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Your hands are cold, feeling me in the dark.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

?Edgar Bowers, "To the Contemporary Muse"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~