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May 12, 2026

285. and all the world drops dead

Sharing Sylvia Plath’s poem, “Mad Girl’s Love Song”

 

I shut my eyes, and all the world drops dead;
 I lift my lids, and all is born again.
 (I think I made you up inside my head.)
 
 The stars go waltzing out in blue and red,
 And arbitrary blackness gallops in:
 I shut my eyes, and all the world drops dead.
 
 I dreamed that you bewitched me into bed
 And sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite insane.
 (I think I made you up inside my head.)
 
 God topples from the sky, hell's fires fade:
 Exit seraphim and Satan's men:
 I shut my eyes, and all the world drops dead.
 
 I fancied you'd return the way you said,
 But I grow old, and I forget your name.
 (I think I made you up inside my head.)
 
 I should have loved a thunderbird instead;
 At least when spring comes they roar back again.
 I shut my eyes, and all the world drops dead.
 (I think I made you up inside my head.)