Ted Hughes Poem on Wife Sylvia Plath's Death to Be Published

Sylvia Plath is considered to be one of the greatest American poets despite the troubled life she led, including her marriage to British poet Ted Hughes. Hughes died back in 1999, but a recently unearthed poem he wrote detailing the death of Sylvia has been discovered in the archives of the British Library in London.

Sylvia committed suicide at the young age of 30 while married to Ted. Her poetry was not well known until after her death, but her novel "The Bell Jar" which reflected her own future suicide had a cult following. The book still remains popular in American high schools and is required reading for many English classes. Ted's poem on her suicide, "Last Letter" documents the events that eventually led to Sylvia's death three days before she died. Sylvia Plath died in a small London apartment on February 11, 1963. Winter in England can be brutal and it was a cold morning when Ted first got word of her death. Even though Ted and Sylvia were both equally talented poets their relationship was strained, with Sylvia having accused Ted of having other relationships while being married to him.

Sylvia's poetry is powerful, frequently evoking dark images of life which is comparable to the work of Emily Dickinson. "Last Letter" has touched a nerve with those who have seen and read the poem, including British poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy, Melvyn Bragg, the guest editor of the literary journal New Statesman, and Jonathan Pryce, who read portions of the poem on British television. Hughes wrote a collection of poetry titled "Birthday Letters" which was published in 1999 before his death. The poetry that he wrote details the troubled relationship between him and his wife and the days after her suicide, which were difficult for him. "Last Letter" is considered to be the one poem that is the missing puzzle piece to "Birthday Letters." Hughes eventually remarried twice after Sylvia's death.

In addition to "The Bell Jar", Sylvia wrote three collections of poetry: "Crossing the Water", "Ariel", and "The Colossus." "Crossing the Water" is a collection of transitional poetry that evokes surreal visions of her life that one can easily relate to. With the publication of "Last Letter", Sylvia's public may finally come to understand how one so young and gifted can take her own life the way she did.

Crossing the Water, Sylvia Plath. New York: Harper and Row 1971.

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