dying is an art like everything else sylvia plath

7/27/2019 Dying is an Art Like Everything Else Sylvia Plath

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"Dying 1s anArt, Like Everything Else"

I &e aiyricle'brnoneaf&eA&i paem S$4~ialathW% rVr1thgup to&e day she tmk ber Ilfeat &e age:dtbq,nd it i svith het pte05eqa-tfonW& dea& and memory thar 1am qimIf pmcwpied , most.e*-&ai@ wh4 I f a& po~mrr-nm the thlw they re& o arrd takeme alongwith th-. 'T& I c a%&n&&,utdi itwhat lonwill; it s t q sus in Q& tra&s .W a magiecme &'\I% W dea& &Fea ihings:&%ihese &hpne not q~labolsm star p&&s a W ~ n i d efp@& $+S&[email protected] sigaso fmmf$WU&. th9yejiast chiqgs,~ - 0 ~ 0 ~ n gpackandforth beCween theanimateandi a d t ew i t h aithep~oinit fimediarion,&e f t e u e s t i o n . ~ ~ ~p . 4 , &e.qu&n &&t maices noIW&h ,&mwise: IIw isit.that&e iesrinfhonbebeeen subject@6bject, bqaveenmeandthings,is eowu* dependent QEI life and dea&i?Whg b thharFier.ed.indexofthe hiqimid, a d ew san t:be, hen,thatdeath a w h sl in thiw?Ov r there, death, the gmvepard where thiags mupr lp%i~etoWs,beeitiry-placei Rere,.memdufe,.h .uming bkpomi"g-m-W n , ~ e s ~ - f ~ e n ~ d ~ n .t was not alwa~sike this. It needed&ecitreatAw&ming.breughiby E&&tehm@ f a desch to nnatieethinp.In&e aoil pkees the debatemge.

&&,a me i6 a pi- d a ari&$h ?UO&S h&tlt. wjths d& biwe& 1 ~own ovm hk h=. e sdd but ,mmg?ndbulkpbody of a f b . ~ o rarest Inhy'b.amoes widesplayed


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into ar&m notk n o ~ ~ c i ~w a e p ~ ,idthershow nor feetanymore.If 1 say he looiks~tminp&


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Yet b imamaed to. a divine tug-of4vm.%WhyouE these dead haw sudiWlry wedd.:rhepwmt&er todie?& mbre ta td;.ut let =e refer you to the&hnolagistRobeti.Hex@'s hlrn-of-rhe-cenhm essa7 @n>n ~01leewYe represesMtiw afdeath (in what are sometimes called primitive or premodern sodeties),where he conduded his sixtypage essa). by saying that for the coiiectiveconsciousness, death is in n o r d arcumstances merely a temporary ex-dusion of the individua] from huuian soc5ety.l In other words what weaall:humrisockq is ,hempichired as beinghuriian and b e h a m ~ c k t y$y vime or& &m h t the dead ate very much part of jt.I don'r, IrnW ifu:a- reay +in. H e m , who d ' i till young inthe.trenohm:inWor1d V k , ua appr~dti~ee~e~~doliblemss'of~dea~by drawing atfentiQnto&e bu:&.8hat @u@r hireyein maap soci-eties, &efirstburM1:b e i immeme $sp@ai of @e mtcer of&ecmrpe; t k conci b u d b&g the disposai 6f che s m t , IL@' twitii mudifeastiqg and.cerem&id5oewrring .mon&s 8no t $ e a s ~~ la t q :Hertz ,&cm us a rtl.rEdeinpti~, r fundo&~, iipproilch to p%,and con8ia. Fisst yw sufXer'l~. haosletgne. I hen wmesthe reward.Peare isestablishCd.Life triumpls 0- @ore~ver .deit#hand 'hamouy&@S. &~d'ocotirae td m & s seme, in the end, iino@mq sreeped inche macmiv@@al scjencem well ns CkManity.nere-$ tenQioiaryedus.ia~"?e the coipge rat9 bm w n :&e h t , asher p-ptorp fu-n&, aBd he mudi !aW.secoad funeral. Bottkis temporarbemsnd kisfoasiag m u n dwidi two f u n d s ~ ~ i i dfp.pe, ,&t? elaboracenessof&e sem-nd, shoukl.drlw home t0us dl& ?noreW J he iriclueioaofdead in hmanw&)i thanks cr uleefforts :tmiested Iti [email protected] r o w e&-& It's nrvt ht,.eapyW shove themout: into the cdd ljlwpnder,%e * t~@M& Eem:ders usis liketrtobea v d s t a t e~ f ~ ~ r s , ~exed,,imfact, tiatitam6uatstoa fund~mentzil,flawt~n&gchrough&e iu:corefsociety like che S@.&df@s fult Itwould be nlce ifthe deadwdd be tuckedaway,. r awaywayo ti$%.~ o u l de MM worlds,0ne for the hing md one far uiedead. It wov166. abost asnSct&ieywefe &ven vkifing priHileges,.say one,or two daysta Far, like &e Mei%igqDayd@head, m @ e s and griNiing skuIls wit$ pianics in the semetery,md asamsdt of t &era! attiaud&&ey then promised to keepweli mitof&e vuay far the. ' % '36% [email protected] &at i f & e f r e u n c o n ~ 1 e ,Wie ilPegallkmi=ifor&a snd Te-? 'PD frCeiEre isue afi~tl&imag$ne'thedt)tof New Yorllwithan additiolial ts@rou:&,and this extrakougb 1s&e boiPug+ of he dwd, bigger t b n aW &z ottzen w u g h s

1. See Roben tkrtr, -A 'Antribution lo the Studyof he Collcciive RcpresenmtionorDearhT Dsml> aad theKighHnnd m a . Rodny and Claudia N d h a m (I.ondon. 1W),


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put together. Whar iives mighr the dead there lead?How do they cornmu-nicate wiih the living? Are they part of che bndge-and-tunnel crowd?~,hyia;ibly+&@& t .s;~tkwaymnsihwitlient aokne$0&e ro-&&&-.t&j if &h,@i,oised po&wNuaicing zhir per! W b t pm@,&ght theyb m e aver us,&dh wtd.ehey b &ptt& rid ~f as has beenachlevedin any decmc &ty i n h a r i c a ?&e Iike the homelw*or vice v-?Maptie &e ,&qrdr,,M@,@t *& & ~squ-e peopla Eoor&g bf'&mm,fb$&: +&ty; .& sijwt:&d ~ & t , O fqcomic aanoeir'a. ~ ~ ~"'Yawjeb now is to :W a sWtern~.qr~ds:" Bmughis

i a p t w a I n h bo& af&atname. "'li'a fio% iheWesteniLa& aremated: . ,wr-astheO l i X@@iId ~ t 7 . s . . i ud$ e - n l ~ . ~~p s ed ! ao drr>&e.&-dgabij:d, @q p & *t&rhungry flatlhes ~f&t:&[email protected]~oada& cobe a e d n gryti&ovpnednedaod C opeq -yone ready % o , , d e step inu,I q@ibawn, a&d&& a& i'p~etrirnble,us them.4th-1 @1end.qBumoughmnn&.&e a lm .& Tt~seerns&n:ay'at%sa.Pokingfun:,athedaad aas~oa ofma3$e t h6 tiik e&nt Eheg ahmz&sa:p~pear..S6prall,,hat.!sw$a;b&g&acj&~U:PF~dobea$out @*ppeafiarie. B u t . t h ~a6ret$ :s& thar S ~ ' te quite~~i:p%gdeepEngignd :e4@suke B m ~ g b simspB. fle'gw'&& Wder t o ad-vme,jm*skehLS pme.tbno, sewgoiit on amp*ta&&ipilism..Cbw.&,satumte'% W ~ t d m L & ~ C b d s of tkdkad , along&h&e 6I~sXaf;~~:estsnd calar, n@ .@giiep&@uns- m,Why~mow&,you skkp Why ind&&:mC@rO&i&f@Petw,,,ritem twentp pezrs&a

e. wdlsigW am+~.m.~~ . rundro$k,w) ,pp.74,115:3,WGaae a i i Cmo&&PLIm CarolStewari@ew Y&, 1W),y..42,>62.


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when he remai'ks,,.ti iatu~ving- q m d r . aq p f wbaria de4 , a%d.aveq m e cgpe.'*Efead.dm &e &ne inBz$on


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&e ~a&~.:interinedMrimerne+ @fld"1&espitit~errgi,no ioiiger shg&igind :dan&g!:inthe-mzets07,@&ng ig *t's E&& &e :fp&sc%Xhe saiits -L,. said Fiesdiinza&@c o ns o ug ;t W@$ bis Yiewof raeukd hismry over theLmg bui.;Ormkybe .&e dead &ply ,&em d ndE simi& to @e:Ev@ jr@j@@.,al~ngwitb&eqmsian sf ri~ne.ftrrfim-tim:e-&ugffm&6,&&being tbe.p~e&Lent!fm@fkrnlrderin4~&-spa&. for the ,yaun$m:enoftbe b,@l r ~ U;S; w.&p&%idsoner. nodonbr, a 0.mmq:

I mld'liketa.say-hnithe Mtness d m y mivate-tlgt poem Iiisdiisvaeum, ihat pm@yis Perceil u,,aiis R~uum,@rj @at p&rpdoes&iibeause It is 8hemmos mimetigLipnwa$ct.8 fm c#v,erbalrepwsentationandexpmiom@ttreis,,,breakgj@planpge Q 'ess hancosa-p'o&n''it, @%q~i&e'y-a* whue a z t sa& htme resolutely on &etri@b with :sametRirig. m:@.%.Ni6tzsche d&.vko #&eheemptiness-after &ed&Qf W asBlled-wirha pmn~e,,.the~$reat$fempr~r-space*1id.58@v&&* se~rpller~E&sio~,ard timesthis space ofdioath.ai@$ f f e rf i g p r k u n . hma p~etwboaa prckupOH the alim&@maEl(im @hatt&&&g .is.m.rely i ~ p eofwhat dwd,+@iqy are %e!' It is,mywgummnt, t hm? that ike powy kt p G o n c$$-&oss.,thl. divis~cm6t~~:enhe a d heW Cliatmg@e&kiy a~f l f ;5 i@~+atI~ .~Uia$9innliiiiig,&poetintiifidiwllflooda d g e , i n ~ ~ i ~ ~ . & @ e t i ~ i b ' @ ~~njamin iayhave Sast fri~Qlie.g~qteh,ut he was quicktoseiw.on he m;r@c oe the ?ammodi@ Qngealed puke of &e marice&W ."'.nmwgthinghatid i* B$ Vkttleof,~&an'epitomeecanstru~ie&


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.an xtraordhiarp.peti@qf dea& ds a aitic do, $ 0 pointed oub.the cast of Benj&$ .thou$hf ne of '"aturiiihistwy,"' &ed bpthe n d ob m m e a thing in "ordtrtobreak &e speKofehin9:'""'I mt d d n g &e bese poenas ofmy 'Efe,'" she wate her mother

&pit i& pgem a-few $ags before her dea&. ""niey makemywe . ' " s &d .&y a [email protected] cose whisding aut 0f Ari--formample,hn e S e w n (rep~rtedi~):H* sulcidk.w ~ aer most bd -Gant~areer:moie.'''~Buxlso caaslder&e opiilion of&edAl+reh whb,I believe, thought kt theAliul poems lwk like thq x%?s h!itc$n Nst-humonkly. I f& this, tooi Think about i% t's,:as.%&e qpirit of &e dead

i# ,&ea$y ere S?ta&ed in B f e 4 v i n g d h dld we nots a y P 4 -italled in ihegoet d g i t o i j s&&uldi UDyitig'b n art,Uk everphngeh.1 I da it exippti~Rall~ W."'~eZR W ti@ d@th 6f mi, the.Fa&zr;DKO,wwhosegmgrenous inftuence~preadsT .miciyride:a@ro@ ~the &t'sdidirsive nekE 've Mled otie man, Ifre ki l ld :7iw)-The vampire who siiid he was youAod dsa& mybtwd for a yeiu,Sevenv$,f p uwant to how.Daddy, you can lieback nohThere's a stake in your fat black hearth d he villwrs nwer Liked you.m ey are da


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li&i,&ea&,. " w h ~ , w & ~ m t > ~ ~@u &g& w&niq,&ew/ *i& ,&@& ispo~i'~@&" e @FS be6ameiinile;pen&ent6*& . ~ ~ .&W,~ ~ ~ ,peso- ~ & e ~ : ~ ~ & & ~ ~&m $&,dbjbjecrs,e h p Of phg ; m& m&c: pe&~med:m6kotal d@ng&mtiae df di& nwn, kadpn puppets:' mese&ngers &ai play on khe Icey~of t;yp+trL "Po@eped -a+."'"h yest read o$Sp@&" W e N s and Bu*rougligk ind&e rif&g ~ead,hi&&g$yJ~14,.ga&errn.:her,&&e&bi%hday pIlrty &i* y@&aft%rherdea& whe&ui.&e rirke's glow,:sk~e.k& &ielli.gzapes&15mbetweenher pursed tips, #rielb: a@her knuckl~%~+shi&ssolemn.Everyane Iau&hs.'Tkie&ppoppi&-&.@anfihirh~~bieiotee.w&n, re.Re$, mdi!morere$+ngh,, -oj,Igbiletkhe'candlescredilet&e* tiPs to CO@J& &erji.>o Ineedp o h out &at @s i$ni;p-po&glp &~I&i$t&%f l d , d , becomeanimar&,pwi& OeWeQfEhe j r c v~ : ~~$UI1d-iaaii zg&when&i8i-ot, @i.sb~>aii~!$ tbe w , ta&g ,ahtag.e.PE&~gofwh-at we@e tofall;Poe,tic icenss.What.is &&t$hd.yous MummP{f9Laugtiingimber nwsimghome;"&tle p u Eather laugh t e a l i &e% .W,&gs:,&&&@& a ~ d ' em ~ - . & u ~ -

' ~ h ~ s ~ , ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "he'~ous~aug~~,9ii~cgm$deof tke ssoq# J m a Pknvn, professarofPw tw o r d tvho .iit~dsir .& inttwsr thepqew Is @@ paetry b b ~s"14Fomnation"'astilep-~a +Wj@ ipveCM,@6ut lw of mieta, ~ S Qeryreuchapplyt@#i&$ ms,too, prioriu.,&ingker own ife? Yet I dodt &nk

l% ,rd!&&+@hes,"?mi"tlA&y.L'et~m(BwYak ,lW},1 I-S,S-a, %B.p. 1%.:I% BU$~~S,wom F S ~ ; " B W * , n. :+*! ~& PLR : 19g;(15.non.,YNX$"@q~ , $ u&&mm6~ I> 3 . f l a n 199Biip.W.1s. Ssrrrir LyB11, " ieded ry#lBd.z lb Rq+?rg Wem. Nm yoalnw '[email protected]. E?.


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ho&eber i$ uoted "'The d y m a k g b &at it's &t.* inW.eontinuiaspresent te@%,&if ahe'djugt lef c'he mom o r , . w uat aboiltto corneback h~ th e. roo&:" '~10na or twice the poet laiueatetalks ~ & f f & e p t wen.Ol'detto Pia&& in fCt~mwtverywliere&p, and t6 tkie peppfeofMrama

bhawauld bena q r i s e , I guess.your ghost'&gpaidb1e h m ry shadaw& loh$& pur dau fiter's words cm t a canale.~i ie ~fci i ye#, =p& in the'endi.Your p m i t , hercxcould& mywn'-.poff&$t.I understand-you never could have released her.I was a whole m th too late to replace you.This undenvorlK, rny friend, is her heatt's home.

Tais could alm@t old h&& u ~ & r e. aiodte-&ne, smoheEPauing. "H& Ottd Give us a break1 t e t g o -:*@e thro~texptodesin drum roilsarrd a : q u i e t u n ~ : l i u miUs~thiace.A &ng2&p:omiiA*t'? A noise like ihe noise afmia& the win& -t is a@q?'a p ~ m ?a qmg ,&l lmks Elieshe's being reborn f r c m betweeahis l e , sif&g *h. $? ~;,her. body betw;etn his kmes with jger hands,:&+a. She faces outwkrds, &ce $D sefio* h.em k g in its piastir.sandaia k e d sli&ti~'Thewo orthern, she in ber %Ete-&ss, hir~hirrkbluesmd greem, $om a rl.iird ma-, .almost a m&@, tv6-bqd4, one&oye tlie ~ th ~ ,, af~ ur &gg edummingcreati~n!Whatho.yds it in staai*,&e am $ l g c b d bwmy, is the miou~ms sf thek e s , TBese,Eacs,'bare t~ougb&e. Of c6 uw qnicsd ay Hugha emph&zes themythic and he Fathe.~0 aS to 4 4 i@ h$ deiits. How z%I~.uI~!''Thedeadhther was right rhePe, nght in @e t&he &e poet laureatema& br & W& &e tabk Eatowhi& her %or& ,ddvLigdo%nw~ u l dme= tlie ~thisisi%;

l wanted to make you a solid writing-tableThat would last a Metime.I bought a broad elm plank two inches thick,The mld bari surfuigalong one edge of it,Rounh-cut for coffi timber. Coffin elm. . ~. ~ ~~~~.~ ~~ & & a ew@&, vnth,i$s orpse,Oromeci in &e wacets of eanda- I'igives ihe d,e&dProtecdon foEa s f i g h k i ~~ Iopgw e g e


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Than beech or ash or pine might With a planrI reveaied the perfect landing padFor your inspiratiun. I did notKnow I had ma& and tined a doorOpening downwards into your Daddy's bmveYou hent over it euphoncWith your Nescaf evcry morning.Like an animal, smefling the wild air,I.is1ening into its own dment,Then tinding the exact herb.11 did not take vou loneTo divine in th elm, fAlowing your pen.The words that would open it. IncredulousI saw rise through it, in broad daylight,Your Daddy res~rreaed.'~

Yet it would be a mismke,.accmtkg t6 h , ~@&@ EaB@rt@*,to m h e r A& pmms .m fsrui~f a ,@i@$f 'RippiM roufette wi& sindfr$$es in ~hec$&ndei4"~Th@ewms,hesaFS teU.ht.We,ew-nMheasaphned, ia ,&p1f not w6dhl it.''W 1,s(thisaidqPu~o DidoM d d [email protected]@jbfikw Lweli '':uJedwordis like :aTorna7 gun whe~eas@k&~used siietie like nerve:ga~?' '~~,aiad> Memuinwswai): 0~pk&&8mi0&$, the silme ahewdwsfefer*W Ptath's be*, a6t f i e r p w : ~ to thed e p e s k k p.ossIb1e letq o unditrsuind Pl&S pw* sue@%and Mieversa,,a silente" ft ike h&~the..ardiai.s.f@r that, fctbwing@orge&Ba&@klJda K&telia~ d d ,@&e6wh.stateofmmy a n d i n e 0 r n p 1 ~ t e s i e ~ ~ o n ~ ~ : @ ~Other, a> of b l m d :trOuundafl~?s,bat Heidegger woyld have de-:&&&'hking &&ous vEe& @p&&$& @M:i; ifaegprurded,. sam&ni~os&;p$on. of'un~~fig&i


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,ed&& of C& &&I Wtth fetirhism,. oGects "talk" through wmpfexthey pfay*th ohephdldssb& h:iet thee (Fmd) or through &e'due:aoeor&d tbe mispLaced oon&m$$ afthe cQmr@ity@W). ButO&? with abjectioa, when boundaries beween :4fnd o t b r li-ebl-d and feaisomdyup or grabs, does a n p g esw hecause &b&C-aion & &e.preeWent spte dliPing~dea&wheie s&bject.and bjectstagetheir episwi" p d c .

The point is that sudi iinguistic virtuosity should be caiied for whatit is, namely, mimetic flw in which the thingness of things is there in yourface criss-nosing perceiver and perceived, object with objecc.If only the wind would leave my lungs aloneDogbody noses the petais. They bloom upside down. . .Cabbageheads: wormy purple. silver-glaze,A d m i n g of mule-ears, mothy pelts, but green-hearted,Their veins white as porkfatQ the beauty of usagel YPB:' u. 12-13, 18-21, p. 1311

In the sedioncaiiedTi@&Buvitirig" ofthis same poemwe re%&If I am a IitLle one, I eaa do no harm.f f I:dita't move about, IW kqock n o t h i OV&.C6 I sald,Si*, W& a,po@d,.riny'and ii@m.&s,'aneg r d .mefare mr@g t& h m e $ up, rin after &g.*;.,&e m ofd-, my sm;ul whire fenOnKs,~.rnow.Ithurts at firs~.The red ~~ngiaesitl rea& the &h.[UPB,"ii. 154-59, p. l351

Lingu i s t i cbv~~ tery ' indeed .ut mete how:adueved: noi by-meta-phor but &.mugh:a mimetic burnout of ,fmetzphor.wsd at wMte b~atinto the referent-'''Ibeir vm [email protected] which languageattains&e stams 6f wit&craft-~ubslt.anea,.w&g%, .3ti oepicsubtame n&e abdamen of &e h e d e &t&, no:les~han.in- b&&@ pf thase w bdance so as to d o he work.of the witch. -nhey re p~ets,oo, day1 chey dame .h he&icm sun. They dwng &e pes;ricio, said @ea.ot ,t&y da &e$ divinewith .&ek iipa9but with their e -tihe b~dy,hanli3 to the medi& tbat their b t i n g actimtes. enabbg

m.


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prsphecy. Thesesubstanms io Ehebodie~~ofthe~~f&.nole$$t& & tIie'dirneem&t&eepersaiis.:ne. diciiie oftthe"p.@isb~i~ i ! f i e a r s . ~permn and sedesasa IIkam,but (t &~@ere r ' . ae W Bar a k*,,bei% smgl~ i.ed!powder:"?O s & . d ~ h e r s ~ g l ~ . m a n ~ ~i&che dilemma thps p~o;,s&a t&@ g' $li lr b.epers bbut :is:rroi one.Nn&ezE, t@, Wg:pg@le&? &ngs, aadi.ice veiazo ,tbe'nademark~+epistem&iofl fgN0wi.g w&h: M ~ Q& ~ efBwi.min's tixoy$t as one o f ' b a ~istory,"@&ed imi tk ~a@ri$ii$ ;of i&w1f'ig b$*stie need m become a thing &t@f&er~ wdo &e m&smophic speii of th&p!".W& more t & + agaaipis. It% preswiptk. ISo ve ~wIielV@$,b.adc$b spellrandwgic-h;rarxkt niagic, k,ab.ba-WC.ande.iwa@~,and aFde.&urseeath-magic,m ManwaadRertzhYe fnsmctedi:~us::thisongcentq.+he &f%en'ce,.tfieh*& dXeren&z,between the poetry atrd .&aogra$h~ fqr p ~ aea&,WEe-iPan~is&duerinre, "anm, e ovewing,&e? Thhgs . a d dathaiss%ro&sh [h&) p o e q t~@&~@i@id$ot- t3iat M dd +e hare lo@,wfi*er of @&talen6 wuch ~$n@es. nkp to jeia m1ves' hgiqg IE& the~m&.&~rpha@,.what we&tkropolo@sbbring home f mfarayvay .wnniagg ~ . dlacesj.:&at~ o r l d&&e moihn&ab with i5 Iktorimauthorized,as Beqiamin w d ,y dea*, :dhw.jmg@Wdso&s%Uelkwghastsboni~rnodera.mld. %e.re:hrepaii$Iibfafi&mgnoore ofnen than y m &~@kn Ij~i~speeeh:e*:tbey are today wiehusb v y b;sause Eheg ire tme, auth:exsed andm~@,...~., w;utp~g& to;be.intpeparno~hodo as re ene&ze m,speefh .Suid&I* &i$e gatw feast to 'thaauithrop&logisa,nd&t&*,with Cheir s tor ie sda e a bxom.But thehen therefs peetry$$@p*poetcy is wha& fter &e .dea& of God is ttie priv&eg$tj ;fiomf$~fianguagcdxae can 'iav&e:the spints 0f-ed.i& as&e grOun&.%rcom.munion-Hiththings.a& ebplp. " E ~ o o ro t t ~a.9 outh:' Thevery'"ingmgeo;fthimgli"enj~mewas;dmwnzoi'Jf1 mddpAt:"shie.said

$ay before.shd&l, "'I would'wnCR> o~intthb~es.lomtlie &in&-n* of*,'"%'E

dying is an art like everything else sylvia plath

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