O yellow eye, let me be sick with your heat, let me be feverish and frowning

O yellow eye, let me be sick with your heat, let me be feverish and frowning

Anne Sexton was a poet known for her raw and confessional style, delving into themes of mental illness, motherhood, and the struggles of being a woman in a patriarchal society. In her poem "O yellow eye, let me be sick with your heat, let me be feverish and frowning," Sexton explores the complexities of desire, pain, and longing.

The opening line, "O yellow eye," immediately sets a tone of intensity and intimacy. The color yellow is often associated with warmth, energy, and light, but in this context, it takes on a more sinister and feverish quality. The speaker is addressing an unknown entity, perhaps a lover or a symbol of desire, and is expressing a desire to be consumed by their heat.

The phrase "let me be sick with your heat" suggests a longing for a kind of feverish passion that borders on obsession. The speaker wants to be overwhelmed by this heat, to be consumed by it until they are sick with desire. This intense longing is further emphasized by the repetition of the word "let me," as if the speaker is pleading for permission to experience this feverish state.

The line "let me be feverish and frowning" adds another layer to the speaker's desire. Feverishness is often associated with illness and delirium, suggesting that the speaker is willing to sacrifice their own well-being in order to experience this intense passion. The mention of frowning adds a sense of tension and conflict to the poem, as if the speaker is struggling with their own desires and the consequences of giving in to them.

Overall, "O yellow eye, let me be sick with your heat, let me be feverish and frowning" captures the complex and often contradictory nature of desire. Sexton's use of vivid imagery and intense emotion creates a sense of urgency and longing that resonates with readers, inviting them to explore the depths of their own desires and fears.