Crossing the Water: Sylvia Plath's Triumphant Poetry Collection Exploring Tensions Between Desire and Duty

Before I go on my endless praise for Sylvia Plath and her transcendent poetic prowess, I think this collection best captures the template of the framework of the human mind.She always categorizes either black or white to be the complexions of the mind, and I like how she resonates her language to describe the title poem “Crossing the Water” and “Insomnia” and “In Plaster” to a certain extent.These poems wrestle the black and white and blend to the grey as we know her most famous poems that we know today (Lady Lazarus, Daddy).If you don’t have Ariel as the pinnacle in your mind, you won’t ever truly enjoy this work and others as well—it’s best to take this collection as is and enjoy its identity, which is nothing but magical.

This is probably my favorite collection of Plath poetry, although some of my favorite poems aren't in here (Morning Song is my very favorite). From the time I looked at the cover (dark waves at night, what could be better for the writer who crossed the Atlantic to die by her own hand?) to the last poem in the book, I felt that I was seeing Plath's vision at its most clearly expressed. You can feel the dark weight of her impending collapse, but her head is still above water, so to speak. I also think that it's the book with the least amount of self-pity; she's strongest as a poet and as a person in this collection. This is not to discount Ariel, which contain some of her best poems, but they're like flashes of lightning in a grey sky of self-pity. In Crossing the Water, on the other hand, we get to see the loneliness of the long distance swimmer, sure and strong, who knows she's heading into danger.

I cannot recommend this book enough.

I really love this book but I love Sylvia Plath :) the book came in great condition and very promptly.

I can really relate to her poetry. Her genius shows in her wonderful poetry.

I can't not get enough of Plath. She was certainly way ahead of her time and a true literary genius.

The product got here much earlier than the estimated date of delivery. It was really nice. The only issue I had, was that it was marked new, and although it was in great condition it had a name written in it. This wouldn't have bothered me except for it was a gift, and I was expecting a brand new book. If I had known it was written in I would have bought something different.

Always a fan of her work. This was another great collection.

Reading this felt like if they found an as yet undiscovered, brilliant Shakespeare play.

Beautiful book, worth the read

I found this collection contains the most accessible of Plath's poems. Still Birth, Plaster-cast, Mirror, Crossing the Water were my favourites but six or so others were equally good.