Why Sylvia?

Her writing travels beyond the boundaries of time, so it’s no surprise Sylvia Plath is one of my most favoured poets.

Sylvia Plath Image via Wikipedia

Before she was exalted and celebrated as one of the greatest poets of our modern times, Sylvia Plath (1932-1963) was a writer who struggled with her mental health.

A female writer in a patriarchal system, no doubt as I struggle too within this system. It was documented that she had turbulent experiences with her parents, motherhood and her life as a wife. Ending her time here on Earth via self-harm.

Her husband, Ted Hughes a poet like herself was known at the time for his own writing credentials, however as time has passed he has been regaled as a footnote to her brilliance.

I often wonder what it would have been like for her if she was celebrated as the genius within her lifetime, or in fact is it her lived experience reflected backwards that lends to her current credibility.

Or is it that we can view the full picture of her writing in contrast to the life she lived. However the case, I thank her for her incredible wisdom with words.