Itinerary: Anne Sexton Inspired

Anne Sexton, one of the most confessional poets of the 20th century, wrote about life, death, madness, and the intricacies of the human soul. Her poetry is raw, haunting, and full of complex emotion, often shaped by her struggles with mental illness and personal traumas. Traveling in her footsteps is not just about visiting physical locations but immersing oneself in the themes of her work. This five-day itinerary is designed to reflect Sexton’s poetry—mixing urban introspection, serene nature, and moments of quiet reflection.

Day 1: Boston – The Pulse of Anne’s Early Life

Morning: Beacon Hill
Begin your day with a peaceful walk through Beacon Hill, one of Boston’s oldest neighborhoods. The cobblestone streets, gas-lit lamps, and Federal-style rowhouses will evoke a sense of history and quiet reflection. Sexton’s poetry often explored themes of identity and the haunting passage of time—something that these streets seem to embody.
Stop for coffee at a local café and read a few Sexton poems, such as “Her Kind” or “Wanting to Die.”

• Afternoon: Boston Public Library
  Spend the afternoon at the Boston Public Library, an institution of quiet learning. Anne Sexton often found herself exploring the balance between intellect and emotion, and there’s no better place to consider this than in the library’s grand reading rooms.
  Take a moment to read or write in your journal, reflecting on Sexton’s pursuit of knowledge and truth.

• Evening: Charles River Esplanade
  As the day winds down, head to the Charles River Esplanade. A walk by the river, especially at sunset, offers a space for contemplation. This tranquil setting juxtaposes the intense themes of life and death that haunt Sexton’s poetry.

Day 2: Newton – The Suburbs of Despair and Creativity

Anne Sexton spent much of her adult life in Newton, Massachusetts, where she grappled with depression and found her poetic voice.

• Morning: Visit Sexton’s Home (Private Viewing)
  Drive to 15 Westland Road, where Sexton lived with her family. While it’s a private residence and not open to the public, you can still reflect on how this suburban home was both a source of comfort and a backdrop to her inner turmoil. Sexton’s battles with mental illness were intense, yet her poetry offered her a form of escape and release.

• Afternoon: Walnut Street Cemetery
  Pay a visit to the Walnut Street Cemetery, a peaceful and historical site in Newton. Sexton was known for her meditations on death and rebirth, and a visit to this old cemetery can be a moment for you to sit with these heavy themes.
  Read “Sylvia’s Death,” Sexton’s elegy for her friend Sylvia Plath, and contemplate the nature of grief, loss, and creative connection.

• Evening: Dinner in Newton Center
  End your day with a quiet dinner in Newton Center. Choose a cozy restaurant that offers a meditative atmosphere, a fitting close to a day that has explored the intersection of personal history and poetic creativity.

Day 3: Cambridge – The Literary Heart

Home to some of America’s greatest writers and intellectuals, Cambridge was an important cultural and academic hub in Sexton’s time.

• Morning: Harvard Square
  Begin with a leisurely stroll around Harvard Square. Though Anne Sexton did not attend Harvard, she would have been familiar with the intellectual air that pervades the square. This is a great place to visit independent bookstores, such as the Harvard Book Store or Grolier Poetry Book Shop.
  Pick up a collection of Sexton’s poems or a biography to carry with you on the trip.

• Afternoon: Harvard Art Museums
  Sexton’s poetry often engaged with art and other creative mediums. Spend the afternoon at the Harvard Art Museums, which house collections from various periods and styles. Take in the paintings and sculptures, imagining how Sexton might have translated these visual experiences into her visceral poetry.
  Reflect on her poem “The Starry Night,” which responds to Van Gogh’s famous painting.

• Evening: Poetry Reading at the Grolier Poetry Book Shop
  If possible, attend a poetry reading or event at the Grolier Poetry Book Shop. Engaging with live poetry in an intimate space can be a powerful experience that echoes Sexton’s own performances during her lifetime.

Day 4: Gloucester – Finding Solitude by the Sea

Anne Sexton’s poetry often expressed a yearning for escape, a longing for something beyond the everyday. On day four, leave the city behind and venture to the sea.

• Morning: Drive to Gloucester
  Just an hour north of Boston, Gloucester is a seaside town that offers the kind of contemplative quiet that Sexton seemed to seek in her life.
  Drive with the windows down, listening to calm music or perhaps a recording of Sexton reading her own poetry.

• Afternoon: Good Harbor Beach
  Spend the afternoon on Good Harbor Beach. The vastness of the ocean and the horizon is a perfect metaphor for Sexton’s themes of infinity, death, and longing. Walk along the shore, collect seashells, and let your thoughts wander as freely as Sexton’s confessional verses.
  Bring along her poem “The Death of the Fathers” and think about her complicated relationship with the idea of the sea and escape.

• Evening: Sunset at Eastern Point Lighthouse
  Cap off your day with a visit to the Eastern Point Lighthouse. Watching the sun set over the Atlantic can feel like the kind of closure or rebirth that Sexton herself might have sought. Sit quietly and reflect on the journey so far.

Day 5: Medfield – Anne Sexton’s Final Resting Place

Morning: Drive to Medfield
Your final day will take you to Medfield, where Sexton is buried. Though it may seem a somber way to end your trip, visiting her grave offers an opportunity to connect with her life’s work on a deeply personal level.

• Afternoon: Visit Forest Hills Cemetery
  Sexton’s grave is located in the Forest Hills Cemetery in Medfield. Spend time in quiet reflection at her gravesite, perhaps leaving behind a small token or flower in tribute to the poet who laid bare the truths of her existence.
  Read one final poem, such as “The Truth the Dead Know,” a poem that contemplates life, loss, and finality.

• Evening: Return to Boston
  After your visit, return to Boston for one final night. Reflect on the journey—both literal and metaphorical—that you’ve taken through the life and words of Anne Sexton.

That’s a Wrap!

This five-day itinerary, inspired by the poet Anne Sexton, allows you to explore not only the physical locations of her life but also the emotional landscapes of her poetry. Through moments of quiet reflection, seaside contemplation, and urban exploration, this journey offers a space to connect deeply with the raw, confessional work that made Sexton one of the most unforgettable voices of her time.