Confessional Poetry emerged in the late 1950's - Early 1960's and some poets include robert lowell, sylvia plath, anne sexton, and w.d. snodgrass. Confessional poetry is based on private experiences with and feelings about death, trauma, depression and realtionships were addressed in this type of poetry.
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/9/8/23980743/2558101.jpg)
Now that I am Never Alone
BY TESS GALLAGHER
In the bath I look up and see the brown moth
pressed like a pair of unpredictable lips
against the white wall. I heat up
the water, running as much hot in as I can stand.
These handfuls over my shoulder—how once
he pulled my head against his thigh and dipped
a rivulet down my neck of coldest water from the spring
we were drinking from. Beautiful mischief
that stills a moment so I can never look
back. Only now, brightest now, and the water
never hot enough to drive that shiver out.
But I remember solitude—no other
presence and each thing what it was. Not this raw
fluttering I make of you as you have made of me
your watch-fire, your killing light.
BY TESS GALLAGHER
In the bath I look up and see the brown moth
pressed like a pair of unpredictable lips
against the white wall. I heat up
the water, running as much hot in as I can stand.
These handfuls over my shoulder—how once
he pulled my head against his thigh and dipped
a rivulet down my neck of coldest water from the spring
we were drinking from. Beautiful mischief
that stills a moment so I can never look
back. Only now, brightest now, and the water
never hot enough to drive that shiver out.
But I remember solitude—no other
presence and each thing what it was. Not this raw
fluttering I make of you as you have made of me
your watch-fire, your killing light.
It is explained in the poem that something terrible has happened to her, she may have been molested and feel dirty and hurt. "the water never hot enough to drive that shiver out." is focuses on how she tries to wash it away but no matter how hard she tries its always with her. "these handfuls over my shoulder how once he pulled my head against his thigh and dipped a rivulet down my neck of coldest water from the spring we were drinking from." this is an example of an allusion its referring back to something that happened in the past. "Beautiful mischief" is an oxymoron.