You said the anger would come back just as the love did

You said the anger would come back just as the love did

Anne Sexton was a poet known for her raw and confessional style of writing, delving into themes of mental illness, motherhood, and the complexities of human relationships. In her work, she often explored the duality of emotions, particularly the interplay between love and anger. One of her most famous poems, "You said the anger would come back just as the love did," encapsulates this theme perfectly.

In this poem, Sexton grapples with the idea that love and anger are intertwined, two sides of the same coin. She acknowledges that just as love can be all-consuming and overwhelming, so too can anger. The line "you said the anger would come back just as the love did" suggests that these intense emotions are cyclical, constantly ebbing and flowing within a relationship.

Sexton's exploration of this concept is both poignant and relatable. Many of us have experienced the rollercoaster of emotions that come with loving someone deeply. The highs of passion and connection are often accompanied by the lows of frustration and resentment. Sexton's willingness to confront these darker emotions head-on is what sets her apart as a poet. She doesn't shy away from the messy, complicated aspects of love; instead, she embraces them and uses them as fuel for her art.

The idea that anger can be just as powerful and consuming as love is a sobering one. It reminds us that relationships are not always easy or straightforward, and that it's okay to feel a range of emotions, even the ones that are uncomfortable or difficult to confront. Sexton's willingness to delve into these complex emotional landscapes is what makes her work so compelling and enduring.