The Letters of Sylvia Plath Volume 1 Read online

  ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS

  ALautograph letter (unsigned)

  ALSautograph letter signed

  ASPAurelia Schober Plath

  Lilly LibraryLilly Library, Indiana University at Bloomington

  SPSylvia Plath

  THTed Hughes

  TLtyped letter (unsigned)

  TLStyped letter signed

  < >editorial intervention – where ( ) and [ ] are printed in letters these are as used by SP

  THE LETTERS

  1940–1956

  1940

  TO Otto Emil Plath*

  Monday 19 February 1940

  ALS with envelope and heart-

  shaped enclosure, Smith College

 

  Mr. O. E. Plath

  92 Johnson Ave.

  Winthrop Mass.

 

  Feb. 19. 1940

  Dear Father

  I am coming home soon. Are you as glad as I am?

  Over in Frank’s* work room I got some ink on my fingers which never comes of! I had to rub them with a stone. And the stone took it of.

  I wrote a letter to Mother* and Warren* to. If you want to you may ask them to read it to you.

  My letter is not very long.

  Warren likes me to wright in orange.* Mummy likes me to wright in red. But nearly everybody likes me to wright in blue or black.

  As I told you my letter is not very long. So good by now. I’ll be home soon.

  With Love,

  from

  Sylvia

 

  Dear Father,

  I hope you are better. Over grandma’s* there were many ice-cakes and on every one sat a Seagull! Isn’t that funny (Ha Ha).

  With Love

  from

  Sylvia

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Tuesday 20 February 1940

  ALS with envelope, Smith College

  February 20. 1940

  Dear Mother

  I liked your letter. The waves were up to our front steps they were as high as the window!

  And I wrote a letter to Aunt Dot.* The letter said how delightful it is to fly! And showed a picture of aunt dot flying with a wand (which grandpa* said was an ice-cream cone or a flower.) (Ha Ha)

  (My letter is short.) The only colors I may use are yellow purple orange red blue. The light that is glass is rainbow colors! bye now.

  from Sylvia

  With Love

 

  1943

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  January 1943*

  ALS, Indiana University

  January 1943

  Dearest Mother,

  I have some thing for you on the sideboard where the blue Christmas tree used to be. It is now quater past seven. I have done three quarters of an hour music, and Warren and I have been very good there were no mishaps at tall. I played with Marcia* till fivo clock.

  In music I did the fingering just like you told me to. And I kept saying to myself “This is what mother would want me to do” so I got along very well. I ate all my breakfast very well and did not tease Warren, I went to school with him and defended him. And O by the way Miss Denway loaned mee the book of poetry which I have in school.

  I must now get ready for Bed.

  I am all reddy now it is 25 of eight

  Love

  Sylvia

  grandma’s signature

  Aurelia R Schober

  PS. Carl Ludwig called & will call some other time or come over going to send Warrens XMAS gIFT.

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Saturday 20 March 1943*

  TLS with envelope, Indiana

  University

  March 20, 1942

  Dear Mother,

  Today is Saturday and this morning I got up and had a good breakfast. Then I went upstairs with Grammy, and had a bath and shampoo.

  I have made up some poems, here they are:

  Plant a little seedling

  Mix with rain and showers,

  Stir them with some sun-shine,

  And up come some flowers.

  -----------

  I have a little fairy

  Two kittens and a mouse

  We all live together,

  In one tiny little house.

  The fairy rides the kittins

  And pats the mousies fur,

  When we want a lullaby

  Both the kittens pur.

  ------------

  You have to have my fairy ears*

  To here the bluebells ring

  Among the* green, green grassy fields,

  Where all the flowers sing.

  --

  You have to have my fairy eyes

  To see the pot of gold,

  That lies beyond the rainbow;

  Amongst treasures all untold.

  You have to have my fairy wings

  To flutter in the sky,

  And pass a conversation with

  A friendly butterfly.

  --

  Some day when theres nothing much to do

  And you want to see and hear

  These magic wonders loud and clear

  I’ll lend these things to you.

  -----------------------

  I would like to give all these things to you but I know I can make it up by being good. Mrs. Acker* has given me a piece called the “Merry Farmer” by Schuman.* I have fallen in love with it.

  I have read the nicest book I have ever read, the name was “A Fairy to Stay.* The story of a motherless little girl whose father was in East Africa so she lived with two aunts who did not like mordern children or any children for that matter. The little girls dream was to go to school, and be a Brownie with a brown mushroom hat and to have bobbed hair as hers was always in a straight pigtail.

  One day when her aunts came to give her her lessons they found her reading a Fairy Book. Demanding what silly nonsense she had been reading, she replied that she wanted to go to school, she told them all her her dreams and that Fairys wernt “silly nonsense”. The aunts were shocked and sent her up to bed. She felt that she was living in a horrid dream all of a sudden a dreadful thought came into her mind siezing up her aunts sisors she started to cut her hair then the braid came of in her temper. When the aunts came in her room and found out they were horrified and told her to look in the mirror. Her hair was all straight and long on one side and short on the other, for punishment she would have to go like that for one week. Sending her out in the garden they decided that disipline was the best thing they could do. Out side the little girl rubbed her eyes and looked about what did she see but a fairy! The fairy asked her what was the matter, Pamela (for that was her name) poured out her story. The fairy told her to shut her eyes and she would dry clean her, she touched Pamelas hair, it began to curl, she touched her dirty tearstained face it grew pink and clean she touched her wrinkled dress, it grew clean and white. The fairy went into the house unseen by everyone except the little girl. The fairy said to her-self that she would try to “disipline” the aunts. The whole book is about the fairy and the little girl trying (comicly) trying to disipline the aunts.

  ------------------

  Here is another poem I made up:

  I found a little fairy

  Sleeping in a rose,

  As I picked her up

  She rubbed her tiny nose.

  --

  I took her in the house

  And made a tiny bed,

  Lined with softest thistle down

  And rose petals for her head.

  --

  This little fairy

  (I named her Rosie)

  Grew and grew and grew,

  And many was the posie

  She picked me under skies so blue.

  I like my little fairy

  Wouldn’t you like one too?

  Love

  Sylvia

  P. S. Write soon. I a
m going to enclose papers from school.

 

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Monday 28 June 1943*

  ALS, Indiana University

  Monday

  Dear Mother,

  I received your letter and enjoyed it. We will send you some paper to write on. We are going to Wellesley to pack my duffle bag. I am going to make a note of what I take and check it of when I pack it to go home. I am enclosing the daffodil. (The stitches are awful) The chickens laid 4 eggs.

  Loads of love,

  Sylvia

  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX***X

 

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Tuesday 29 June 1943*

  ALS, Indiana University

  To Mother

 

 

 

  Tuesday

  Dear Mother,

  We sent my duffle bag by express today. It is raining as though it will never stop, the temprature is 66!

  Yesterday Dottie and I, (going to my health examination) found a quarter and a nickel. She let me spend it as I wanted. I spent 20¢ on 2 paper doll books, Rita Hayworth and Hedy Lamar.* The rest I will spend on a defense stamp.

  Dot and I went haying today with the wheelbarrow and got it all under cover before it rained.

  Loads of Love

  Sylvia

  XXXXX XXXXXX***

 

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  c. Friday 2 July 1943

  ALS, Indiana University

  To Mother

  Friday

  Dear Mother,

  How are you? I miss you alot. I hope you will get better so you will be with us over the weekend.

  I will miss Dot, Joe and all my little chicken and bird friends too.

  I helped Dot with the wash today.

  I am making a jar full of rose and other petals. I have learned the secret is to dry them in the sun. Sofar the smell almost knocks you out.

  Loads of love

  Sylvia.

  P.S. I also saw Warren last night, he does not miss us at all. I have my train ticket already.

 

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Monday 5 July 1943

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  July 5

  Dear Mother,

  We came on the train from North Station to Mountainview NH. The journey started with a jerk and ended with a jerk. When we got there it was pouring rain, instead of riding to camp in a haywagon we crowded in cars. When we got there we sang songs around a fireplace, then we had the lunch we brought with hot coco. Mine was: kheese & balonae sandwich, 5 Tollhouse cookies and a cup of coco. Then we got organized in our tents & units. My unit was Oehda, my tent, 3. There were 6 cots in each tent. For supper I had 2 bowls of vegetable soup, 2 cups of milk, 1 orange & 1 peanut-butter sandwich. My friends are: Joan Farrell, Joan Patchett, Jean Patchett, Jean Steck, Marge Taylor, Jody Davenport, Gretchen McGoun, Cinthia Sellman, Emily Pitts. Fun here.

  Love

  Sylvia

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Tuesday 6 July 1943

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  July 6,

  Dear Mother,

  This morning we woke up before the bugle and really got aquainted. For breakfast I had 1 orange, a bowl of rice crispies, acup of milk and a cup of coco. We we went in swimming before lunch for a half an hour. I was in the advanced swimmers group that swims a little over my head. My bathing cap is yellow and cost 15¢, it was a good cap too. For lunch I had two helpings of corn, ham and beans a glass of water and the biggest helping of raspberry jello. Am I going to camp for a month? For supper I had 2 pieces of bread with chopped beef, salad, prunes & milk. We are being read the House at Pooh Corner* before going to sleep. Send me some 1¢ stamps.

  Love

  Sylvia

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Tuesday 6 July 1943

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  Tuesday

  Dear Mother,

  Today they voted for new reporters. I was sad because I liked my job. But what do you think! I was one of the two, all the girls wanted me to be one of them.

  I received Mowglis* letter? and yours. Thank you for the two comic strips I wish you’d send some more. I got every question in the quiz save the last.

  Loads of Love

  Sylvia

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Wednesday 7 July 1943

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  July 7

  Dear Mother,

  I can’t describe what a wonderful time I’m having. From my tent flap I can see across Lake Ossipee to the beautiful Green Mountain. We had a high tide. We go in swiming at ten o’clock for a half an hour then an hour after lunch for another half an hour. For breakfast I had a bowl of Ralston two doughnuts a cup of milk a cup of apple juice. Please send me a pillow & case.

  Love

  Sylvia

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Friday 9 July 1943

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  July 9

  Dear Mother,

  How are you? I have received all your letters, Including Warrens lovely drawing. I was one of two newspaper reporters* selected from our unit. I have made up two poems. I have written every day to you. I spent 95¢ I need a little more money about 2 dollar I found my pillow & case, received all stamps.

  xxxxxx****

  Sylvia

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Saturday 10 July 1943

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  Saturday

  Dear Mother,

  I miss you an awful lot. I received your letter with the 2 dollars and deposited them immediatly. We went for a ride on the hay-rack. My letters have not been neat so most of them are dead letters. For I have been writing every day. Found pillow & case. got stamps.

  Loads of love,

  Sylvia

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Monday 12 July 1943

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  Monday

  Dear Mother,

  How are you? I am having loads of fun one girl has gone home and another is crying all the time. One day I tried a hand at comfroting her. I told her about lots of things, finally she said “I’ll try not to cry any more you’re nice.” So I am tring my best to make her happy. We have a bath every week and a shampoo every 2 weeks.

  Love

  Sylvia

  received stamps, found pillow & case

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Friday 16 July 1943*

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  Dear Mother,

  I received your letter. I miss you terribly, I do almost wish I could go home in two weeks, I have put arrid under arm. For lunch I had: one potato, spinich an egg, beets, a cup of water, and a cocktail dessert. Our mail has not been collected yet you will get it all soon. We are going on a hay ride to climb a mountain and some night we are going to have a picnic campfire. Write soon. I received your check for rest of month.

  xxxxx*****

  Love

  Sylvia

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Saturday 17 July 1943*

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  Dear Mother,

  I love you so much. I miss you an awful lot. I wonder how I will get my duffle bag home. If I send it home the day before I go where will I sleep? I hope you will get the rest of my letters. I write every day and received all y
our letters and Warrens lovely drawing.

 

 

  Loads of love,

  Sylvia

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Sunday 18 July 1943

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  Sunday

  Dearest Mother,

  All the girls in my tent are going home tomorrow so I feel left out. I didn’t get a letter from you yesterday, I hope you are all right. There are some pretty pictures of secenery around they are quite expensive but I bought a few.

  I wonder if I should have my picture taken 6 for 35¢. I have seen lots of pictures to draw. I will have lots of things to show you. Are you well? I worry when I don’t receive letters from you. I am having a bath and shampoo today we have a bath every week and a shampoo every two. My letters are likely dead. I write daily but my addressed are not clear.

  xxx

  Sylvia

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Tuesday 20 July 1943*

  ALS (postcard) Indiana University

  Tuesday

  Dear Mother

  The two new girls in my tent are not well brought up. Luckily the other 3 are lovely, one of them is so funny. The new girls say “ain’t” “youse” kids, “guys” “horsebackin.” It just hurts my ears. I long for my familys soft, sweet talk. Did Warren get my card? We had honeydew melon and hot blue berry muffins this morning. The temprature was below 40! I am so happy here. I miss you but your letters keep me from being homsick. I will see you in two weeks.

  xxxxxxxSylvia***

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Wednesday 21 July 1943*

  ALS on Camp Weetamoe letterhead,

  Indiana University

  I have some drawin

  Wednesday

  Dear Mother,

  How are you? I will see you in less than 2 weeks. I am lucky to be staying for a month. In case you did not receive my cards, I found my pillow & case. I received your money and deposited it. We have gone on the hay ride. You should have had the blueberry muffins and sweet-as-honey-dew melon we had. We have gone boating several times and I am trying to pass my rookie test.

  All the girls have gone from my tent There are two new campers and three old, the new ones are awful and the old ones are splendid.*