With Mercy for the Greedy By Anne Sexton - Giggle Poems

Original Poem：

Concerning your letter in which you ask
me to call a priest and in which you ask
me to wear The Cross that you enclose;
your own cross,
your dog-bitten cross,
no larger than a thumb,
small and wooden, no thorns, this rose—
I pray to its shadow,
that gray place
where it lies on your letter ... deep, deep.
I detest my sins and I try to believe
in The Cross. I touch its tender hips, its dark jawed face,
its solid neck, its brown sleep.
True. There is
a beautiful Jesus.
He is frozen to his bones like a chunk of beef.
How desperately he wanted to pull his arms in!
How desperately I touch his vertical and horizontal axes!
But I can’t. Need is not quite belief.
All morning long
I have worn
your cross, hung with package string around my throat.
It tapped me lightly as a child’s heart might,
tapping secondhand, softly waiting to be born.
Ruth, I cherish the letter you wrote.
My friend, my friend, I was born
doing reference work in sin, and born
confessing it. This is what poems are:
with mercy
for the greedy,
they are the tongue’s wrangle,
the world's pottage, the rat's star.

Analysis and Interpretation of the Poem

This poem is a deeply personal and reflective piece that explores themes of faith, sin, doubt, and redemption. The speaker addresses a letter from a friend named Ruth, who asks the speaker to call a priest and to wear a small wooden cross enclosed in the letter. The cross itself is described vividly—small, wooden, dog-bitten, and no larger than a thumb—symbolizing fragility and personal significance rather than grandeur or traditional religious iconography.

The speaker expresses a struggle with belief and faith. They touch the cross, describing it with intimate, almost human qualities: "tender hips," "dark jawed face," "solid neck," and "brown sleep." This personification of the cross and Jesus reflects the speaker’s attempt to connect with the spiritual symbol on a deeply emotional level. However, the speaker admits that "need is not quite belief," revealing inner conflict and doubt.

The poem also highlights the physicality of Jesus, described as "frozen to his bones like a chunk of beef," which evokes a stark, almost brutal image of suffering and sacrifice. The speaker’s repeated attempts to touch the cross’s "vertical and horizontal axes" symbolize a yearning for connection with faith, but there remains a distance, a gap between desire and true belief.

The closing lines reveal the speaker’s acceptance of their flawed nature—"doing reference work in sin, and born confessing it"—and the role of poetry as a form of mercy and expression. Poems are described metaphorically as "the tongue’s wrangle," "the world's pottage," and "the rat's star," suggesting that poetry is a complex, imperfect, yet vital means of grappling with human experience.

Background and Author Introduction

This poem is written by a modern poet who often delves into themes of spirituality, doubt, and human vulnerability. The letter format and personal tone suggest a close relationship between the speaker and Ruth, possibly reflecting real correspondence or a fictional device to explore intimate thoughts.

The poem’s imagery and language reveal a postmodern sensibility—mixing sacred symbols with raw, everyday language and emotional honesty. The poet’s work frequently challenges traditional religious narratives by presenting faith as a complicated, sometimes painful journey rather than a simple truth.

Reflection and Personal Response

Reading this poem invites us to reflect on our own beliefs and doubts. The speaker’s honest struggle with faith and sin is relatable to many who have experienced moments of spiritual questioning or guilt. The poem does not offer easy answers but instead embraces complexity and imperfection.

The image of wearing a small, fragile cross around the neck symbolizes carrying personal faith or burdens close to oneself. The poem’s tone is tender and melancholic, evoking empathy and introspection.

Educational Value and Learning Points for Children and Students

This poem offers several valuable lessons and learning opportunities for young readers:

• Understanding Symbolism: The cross as a symbol of faith, suffering, and redemption can be explored. Students can learn how objects in poetry carry deeper meanings beyond their physical appearance.

• Exploring Themes of Faith and Doubt: The poem provides a gentle introduction to complex themes such as belief, sin, and spiritual struggle, encouraging students to think critically about personal values and emotions.

• Emotional Expression through Poetry: The poem models how poetry can be a tool for expressing complicated feelings honestly and creatively.

• Imagery and Personification: Students can analyze how the poet uses vivid imagery and personification ("tender hips," "dark jawed face") to create emotional resonance.

• The Role of Poetry: The poem’s conclusion offers a philosophical view of poetry’s purpose, which can inspire students to appreciate poetry as a form of mercy and communication.

Practical Applications and Life Lessons

• Empathy and Compassion: Understanding the speaker’s vulnerability helps cultivate empathy, encouraging students to respect others’ struggles with faith or personal challenges.

• Critical Thinking: The poem encourages questioning and reflection rather than blind acceptance, a valuable skill in both academic and personal contexts.

• Creative Writing: Students can be inspired to write their own poems about personal symbols or experiences, practicing metaphor and emotional honesty.

• Cultural Awareness: Learning about religious symbols and their interpretations broadens cultural literacy.

Reading Comprehension Exercises

1. What is the significance of the cross described in the poem?
2. How does the speaker feel about their own faith? Provide examples from the poem.
3. What does the phrase "Need is not quite belief" mean in the context of the poem?
4. Describe how the poet uses imagery to portray Jesus and the cross.
5. What role does poetry play according to the speaker in the final lines?
6. Why do you think the speaker cherishes the letter from Ruth?
7. Identify and explain one example of personification in the poem.
8. What emotions does the poem evoke in you as a reader?

Answers

1. The cross is a personal, fragile symbol of faith and connection, described as small, wooden, and dog-bitten, representing both vulnerability and significance.
2. The speaker struggles with belief, feeling doubt and detesting their sins, yet still trying to connect with faith by touching the cross.
3. It means that just wanting or needing faith is not the same as truly believing; there is a difference between desire and conviction.
4. The poet uses vivid, almost physical imagery—like "frozen to his bones like a chunk of beef"—to show Jesus as both beautiful and suffering, making the spiritual tangible.
5. Poetry is described as a form of mercy and a way to express human complexity and imperfection.
6. The letter symbolizes a connection and hope; it carries a tangible sign of faith and friendship that the speaker values deeply.
7. The cross is personified with "tender hips," "dark jawed face," and "solid neck," giving it human qualities to deepen emotional connection.
8. Answers will vary but may include feelings of empathy, sadness, reflection, or hope.

This poem is a rich resource for exploring spirituality, emotional honesty, and the power of poetry, making it a valuable study for students seeking to deepen their understanding of literature and human experience.