Leonard Norman Cohen (Montreal, 21 September 1934 – Los Angeles, 7 November 2016) was a Canadian songwriter, poet, writer and composer. Leonard Cohen is considered one of the most famous, influential and appreciated poet and songwriter; in his works Leonard Cohen explores themes such as religion, isolation, depression and sexuality, often turning to the individual.

In this poem, as well as the song he created from the poem “Waiting for the Miracle“, Leonard Cohen tells the story of a man realizing that he has waited “half his life away” for some unattainable ideal, the perfect love. Finally coming to terms with the time lost, he realizes how he has failed to pursue opportunities and live life to the fullest in the ‘NOW’.

Sylvia Plath was an American poet and novelist, best known for her advancement of Confessionalist poetry as a genre through her collections, Colossus and Other Poems, 1960, and Ariel, 1965. Her only novel, The Bell Jar, is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story which illustrates a young woman finding her way through the world of fashion writing while battling with demons from her past, love and relationships, and recurring bouts of severe mental illness.

Plath moved to England in 1959 with her husband and renown author and poet, Ted Hughes. Their relationship was tumultuous and holds a lot of speculation from supporters and critiques of each writer. Plath underwent several kinds of controversial mental illness treatment throughout her life including multiple episodes of electro-convulsive therapy. She continued to write until she tragically ended her own life at her home in Primrose Hill, London in February 1963.

Mad Girl’s Love Song is a villanelle; A villanelle is a poetic form consisting of nineteen lines: five tercets and a final quantrain. The memorable rhythm of a villanelle is created by its ‘refrain’. This is the first and third line of the opening stanza, which are alternatively repeated as the final line in each tercet, coming together as the final lines at the very end of the poem. The rhyme scheme is ABA x5 ABAA.

As with much of Sylvia Plath's poetry, this poem is confessionalist. In this vein, it is safe to assume that the speaker represents Plath and her personal battle with depression. Many religious references throughout the poem create a lofty and almost dissociated sensation, further impacted by the repetition in the villanelle. Her own beliefs, stated in a feminist essay critiquing the role of religion in oppression is felt within the poem, showing a force seemingly outside of the speaker’s control. However, the refrain shifts the power back into the speaker’s hands, as they ‘shut [their] eyes and all the world drops dead’, implying that the greatest powers and challenges are not external forces, but within the mind.

What do you think of this poem? Have you read any of Sylvia Plath’s works? Let me know in the comments below.

‘To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work’

Described by the New York Times as ‘far and away, [the US’s] best selling poet’, Oliver’s poetry and other writings have been tantalising imaginations since her first publication in 1963. Mary Oliver sadly passed away in January of this year but her writing lives on, breathing and renewing itself with every read.

‘Wild Geese’ is a poem which represents both freedom and community, themes that are often addressed as separate entities. Oliver has a way of connecting the ability to be one’s self with the significance of individuals coming together in unison. It is easy to be inspired by Mary Oliver’s artistic and honest observations of nature. Perhaps looking up and out of ourselves is the best way to understand what’s inside.

How does the poem Wild Geese make you feel about your place in the world? Let me know your opinions in the comments below.