I am Vertical
by Sylvia Plath
But I would rather be horizontal.
I am not a tree with my root in the soil
Sucking up minerals and motherly love
So that each March I may gleam into leaf,
Nor am I the beauty of a garden bed
Attracting my share of Ahs and spectacularly painted,
Unknowing I must soon unpetal.
Compared with me, a tree is immortal
And a flower-head not tall, but more startling,
And I want the one's longevity and the other's daring.
Tonight, in the infinitesimal light of the stars,
The trees and the flowers have been strewing their cool odors.
I walk among them, but none of them are noticing.
Sometimes I think that when I am sleeping
I must most perfectly resemble them --
Thoughts gone dim.
It is more natural to me, lying down.
Then the sky and I are in open conversation,
And I shall be useful when I lie down finally:
Then the trees may touch me for once, and the flowers have time for me.
Personal Analysis: Sylvia Plath’s poem I am Vertical uses vivid imagery to show her depression in a beautiful way that connects with the audience. She uses imagery when she is describing the night, saying “Tonight, in the infinitesimal light of the stars, the trees and the flowers having been spewing their cool odors.” I can relate with this poem, as it states that “... I shall be useful when I lie down finally,” which shows that she feels that she is needed more as fertilizer for the ground then as a living creature. There are times when I have felt lost and worthless, just as Plath has in this line. I really enjoyed this poem because of its use of extended metaphors as well. She uses trees to show how she wants a durable long life, and flowers to show how she longs for their beauty and admiration. Using this metaphor shows what Plath does not have, but wants to see in herself. I admire the metaphor and, at times, have pondered the same ideas.
Literary Analysis: The poem I am Vertical uses personification to express her emotions of her worth to the world. Personification is used when Plath walks by the flowers and trees at night, but “...none of them are noticing.” Also, when she is laying horizontal on the ground, she says that “... the sky and I are in full conversation.” By personifying the different aspects of nature, she is contributing to the idea that she is worthless compared to their beauty and long life. The author is suggesting that when she is laying horizontal, she will be more useful to the trees and flowers, acting such as fertilizer and decaying back into the soil in which they live off of. This is proving to the audience that Plath is suggesting the idea of death when she mentions she "lies down finally," therefore laying horizontal compared to the plants.When the author personifies the flowers and trees, saying that they do not notice her, she is showing us that the thoughts of the plants dwindle at night. She then states that her thoughts are the same when she sleeps, and that she only resembles them when they are asleep as well; not when they are displaying their longevity and daring. In lines 14-16 in stanza 2, Plath states that "sometimes I think that when I am sleeping, I most perfectly resemble them-- thoughts gone dim." These lines shows that Plath feels like she is only similar to the flowers and tree when she dead, as she will not have the ability to think. This later connects to how she would be more useful dead, since she could never have the qualities she desires. Plath also uses symbolism to show the traits she wishes she obtained. The tree is used to symbolize a prospering life, for trees are known for their lifespans and durability. The flowerbed is used to represent daintiness and beauty, since flowers are credited for their range of colors and daintiness. Plath uses these symbols as a representation of what she doesn’t have, proving how she is feels she is useless in the eyes of the flowers and trees. In the end, Plath’s poem I am Vertical uses literary devices such as personification and symbolism to express her feelings on her worth to the world.
by Sylvia Plath
But I would rather be horizontal.
I am not a tree with my root in the soil
Sucking up minerals and motherly love
So that each March I may gleam into leaf,
Nor am I the beauty of a garden bed
Attracting my share of Ahs and spectacularly painted,
Unknowing I must soon unpetal.
Compared with me, a tree is immortal
And a flower-head not tall, but more startling,
And I want the one's longevity and the other's daring.
Tonight, in the infinitesimal light of the stars,
The trees and the flowers have been strewing their cool odors.
I walk among them, but none of them are noticing.
Sometimes I think that when I am sleeping
I must most perfectly resemble them --
Thoughts gone dim.
It is more natural to me, lying down.
Then the sky and I are in open conversation,
And I shall be useful when I lie down finally:
Then the trees may touch me for once, and the flowers have time for me.
Personal Analysis: Sylvia Plath’s poem I am Vertical uses vivid imagery to show her depression in a beautiful way that connects with the audience. She uses imagery when she is describing the night, saying “Tonight, in the infinitesimal light of the stars, the trees and the flowers having been spewing their cool odors.” I can relate with this poem, as it states that “... I shall be useful when I lie down finally,” which shows that she feels that she is needed more as fertilizer for the ground then as a living creature. There are times when I have felt lost and worthless, just as Plath has in this line. I really enjoyed this poem because of its use of extended metaphors as well. She uses trees to show how she wants a durable long life, and flowers to show how she longs for their beauty and admiration. Using this metaphor shows what Plath does not have, but wants to see in herself. I admire the metaphor and, at times, have pondered the same ideas.
Literary Analysis: The poem I am Vertical uses personification to express her emotions of her worth to the world. Personification is used when Plath walks by the flowers and trees at night, but “...none of them are noticing.” Also, when she is laying horizontal on the ground, she says that “... the sky and I are in full conversation.” By personifying the different aspects of nature, she is contributing to the idea that she is worthless compared to their beauty and long life. The author is suggesting that when she is laying horizontal, she will be more useful to the trees and flowers, acting such as fertilizer and decaying back into the soil in which they live off of. This is proving to the audience that Plath is suggesting the idea of death when she mentions she "lies down finally," therefore laying horizontal compared to the plants.When the author personifies the flowers and trees, saying that they do not notice her, she is showing us that the thoughts of the plants dwindle at night. She then states that her thoughts are the same when she sleeps, and that she only resembles them when they are asleep as well; not when they are displaying their longevity and daring. In lines 14-16 in stanza 2, Plath states that "sometimes I think that when I am sleeping, I most perfectly resemble them-- thoughts gone dim." These lines shows that Plath feels like she is only similar to the flowers and tree when she dead, as she will not have the ability to think. This later connects to how she would be more useful dead, since she could never have the qualities she desires. Plath also uses symbolism to show the traits she wishes she obtained. The tree is used to symbolize a prospering life, for trees are known for their lifespans and durability. The flowerbed is used to represent daintiness and beauty, since flowers are credited for their range of colors and daintiness. Plath uses these symbols as a representation of what she doesn’t have, proving how she is feels she is useless in the eyes of the flowers and trees. In the end, Plath’s poem I am Vertical uses literary devices such as personification and symbolism to express her feelings on her worth to the world.