Ann sexton was born in Ann sexton was born in Newton,Massachusetts,in Newton,Massachusetts,in 1928.1928.

She attended Garland She attended Garland Junior College for 1 year.Junior College for 1 year.

She married at the age of She married at the age of nineteen.nineteen.

Sexton enrolled in a Sexton enrolled in a modeling course at the modeling course at the Hart Agency and lived Hart Agency and lived in San Francisco and in San Francisco and Baltimore.Baltimore.

She had two She had two daughters there daughters there names were names were Linda and Joyce Linda and Joyce Sexton. Sexton.

Unfortunately Unfortunately she got divorced she got divorced in the early in the early 1970’s.1970’s.

Ann sexton was Ann sexton was diagnosed with diagnosed with postpartam depression postpartam depression in 1954 and she had in 1954 and she had her first mental her first mental breakdown.breakdown.

She was admitted to She was admitted to Westwood Lodge.Westwood Lodge.

Following the birth of Following the birth of her second daughter her second daughter Sexton suffered Sexton suffered another breakdown and another breakdown and was hospitalized againwas hospitalized again..

That same year, That same year, on her birthday, on her birthday, she attemped she attemped suicide.suicide.

She was She was encouraged by her encouraged by her doctor to pursue doctor to pursue an interest in an interest in writing poetry.writing poetry.

In 1957 she enrolled In 1957 she enrolled in a poetry workshop in a poetry workshop at the Boston Center at the Boston Center for Adult Education.for Adult Education.

Her life’s goal was the Her life’s goal was the writing of poetry this writing of poetry this gave Sexton gave Sexton something to work something to work towards.towards.

She developed and She developed and enabled her to endure enabled her to endure life for as long as she life for as long as she did. did.

In 1974 at the age In 1974 at the age of 46, despite a of 46, despite a successful writing successful writing career she lost career she lost the battle with the battle with mental illness and mental illness and committed committed suicide.suicide.

To Bedlam and Part Way Back To Bedlam and Part Way Back (1960)(1960)

All My ones (1962)All My ones (1962)

Live or Die(1966)- (Winner of the Live or Die(1966)- (Winner of the American Place Theatre 1969)American Place Theatre 1969)

The Death Notebooks(1974)The Death Notebooks(1974)

The Truth the Dead KnowThe Truth the Dead Know

Gone, I say and walk from church, Gone, I say and walk from church, refusing the stiff procession to the grave, refusing the stiff procession to the grave, letting the dead ride alone in the hearse. letting the dead ride alone in the hearse. It is June. I am tired of being brave. It is June. I am tired of being brave.

We drive to the Cape. I cultivate We drive to the Cape. I cultivate myself where the sun gutters from the sky, myself where the sun gutters from the sky, where the sea swings in like an iron gate where the sea swings in like an iron gate and we touch. In another country people die. and we touch. In another country people die.

My darling, the wind falls in like stones My darling, the wind falls in like stones from the white hearted water and when we touch from the white hearted water and when we touch we enter touch entirely. No one's alone. we enter touch entirely. No one's alone. Men kill for this, or for as much. Men kill for this, or for as much.

And what of the dead? They lie without shoes And what of the dead? They lie without shoes in the stone boats. They are more like stone in the stone boats. They are more like stone than the sea would be if it stopped. They refuse than the sea would be if it stopped. They refuse to be blessed, throat, eye and knuckleboneto be blessed, throat, eye and knucklebone