The Letters of Sylvia Plath Volume 1 Read online

  A little shiver ran up my spine as I thought how it easily might have been you. My thoughts were interrupted by the paddy wagon screaming around the corner. It had six policeman inside. My mother dragged me away from the scene, fearful that It might have some influence on me.

  I was quite surprised to received a letter addressed to me from Austria yesterday. It was from my grandfather’s half-sister’s granddaughter* (figure that out for me.) She is also thirteen, and just learning to write English, and so wanted someone to correspond with. She also sent some very interesting photos of her family.

  How are you coming on your stories. Remember to send me copies of them, please. I will gladly send you a penciled copy of “The Mummie’s Tomb”* in exchange for one of “A Fateful Night,” or what ever you call it. On the day after you left I finished typing the second chapter of “Stardust,”* which you were so derisive of, “Fairy Tales,” you know.

  My doctor examined my for health a few days ago. Looking at me rather doubtfully, he gave me the knee-test (which, mind you, was not required on my camp card.) I grew rather worried, and so when he hit my floating cartilige, I kicked my leg out a bit, just to do away with any suspicions that he might have. Mother was hovering about nervously, and looked anxiously at the doctor, who looked queerly puzzled after having completed my examination.

  By the way, my address until July 27 will be:

  ——————————

  Camp Helen Storrow

  Buzzard’s Bay, Route #2

  Cape Cod, Mass.

  ——————————

  So in your next letter (I hope it will be a letter) to me, you had better write there. Also, shall I next write to you at Innisfree?

  I hope that we will get together for the tiniest part of the summer! (Hint! Hint!) Can’t you just see us lying on soft pine needles and writing best-sellers in the quiet serenity of the woods? Maybe the picture is a bit exaggerated, but even so ---

  In the meantime, give my love to the family.

  Sincerely,

  “Toothpick Bean

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Saturday 29 June 1946

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  June 29

  Dearest Mother,

  Oh! Camp certainly is wonderful. On Sunday afternoon we had ham and cheese just to start off the season with. I had two helpings along with four cups of milk. The sky is gray, and clouds are skudding across it. The wind is wonderful, too. It blows so hard and sighs through the pine trees breathing a delicious piny smell. We went in for a short dip before supper. I have never seen such water. It is like liquid crystal. The sand is so white, that the water is a translucent green. Out farther it was a lovely blue, although sometimes it reflected the moods of the sky by turning gray. Bets and I got the cabin fixed before taps blew at nine. We didn’t go to sleep for a while because of listening to the wind and watching fireflies.

  xxxx

  Sylvia

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Monday 1 July 1946

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  July 1, 1946

  Dear Mummy,

  Today was sort of damp and cloudy. The wind keeps blowing and blowing. Today is Monday. The sun came out three times, but went in before we could run out to see the miracle. In swimming we had our tests to see what group we would be in. I was so happy to get to be a white cap, where I left off last year. The beginners are red caps, intermediates are white caps, and accomplished are blue. Bets is also a white cap, but will soon get to be a blue cap. I had such fun with her underwater (with nose plugs of course) playing and doing surface dives. We had a barn dance in our unit house* with another unit. Oh! It certainly was fun. Our Arts and Crafts Program is swell.

  Love,

  Siv

  Remember to save the funnies

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Tuesday 2 July 1946

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  Tuesday

  July 2, 1946

  Dear Mother,

  Yesterday we had canteen. I spent a quarter for another sketch pad. There are lots of projects, and so I am very happy with arts and crafts. Today is miserable, all it does is rain and RAIN. It is so terribly boring. We are sitting in our cabin together, and looking out into the damp, gray world. Last night we got to sleep soon after taps and had to be woken up before reville. Time sometimes flies and sometimes drags. I have not gotten a card from you as yet, but we only have had one mail in which two letters were given out. I am having such fun. I have begun to sketch one of the cabins. Our art teacher is eccentric – named Rosamond French, or something like that. Until I have more to write.

  lots of love –

  sylvia

  TO Aurelia Greenwood Schober

  Tuesday 2 July 1946

  ALS, Indiana University

  July 2, 1946

  Dear Grammy

  I hope this gets to you in time to wish you a very Happy BIRTHDAY!

 

  With love,

  From Sylvia

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Wed.–Thurs. 3–4 July 1946

  ALS on Wellesley, Mass.* letterhead,

  Indiana University

  July 3, 1946

  Dear Mother,

  Last night I received your lovely letter in the second mail. I also appreciated Warren’s little bit of humor. Do send me some ribbons; the one and only black one that I brought has disappeared. I also would like my nailnipper, for my fingers have disgracefully long nails.

  Betsy is having a swell time too, and I have made a lot of paintings, but have given them all away. However, I am going to save the rest of them.

  We had quite a time in our unit last night. The fish we had the day before disagreed with them, and so five people threw-up. The councilors were up all night. About thirty people, or over one-fourth of the camp, were ill. We have had so much soup that I am floating around inside. Do not bother to send my tennis racket now. I do not need it as yet. I have made a lot of friends, but none compare with Joan Beals. We have had two cookouts. I am stuffing myself with bread, potatoes, and cereal, but they all float around in the everlasting soup. Well! At last the sun has come out. I sure hope that it dries up all the moisture. We had loads of fun in boating. Both of our councilors are young, pretty, and loads fun. In swimming we had loads of fun, Gayle Greenough* and Marilyn* and I had loads of fun under water. We danced around on the floor of the lake and had a swell time.

  I am eating all I can, but do not have an opportunity to get weighed. The food we have is almost as bad as Uncle Frank’s dog biscuits.

  Tonight the oddest thing happened. Gayle saw the bandage on my so-called “tumor”, and said she’d pull it off for me. She did; but the back half of the growth ripped off, and I filled up two hankies with blood. Everyone was in our cabin and they gaped at me so. One girl cried out in a terrified tone, “Get to the nurse, quick! or you’ll get cancer.”

  I laughed so hard that I began to have tears roll down my cheeks, because I was half-scared myself. They “hearded” (herded, I mean) me to the nurse’s office. Skipper, the head of the camp was there. “Doc” told me that it was very simple, just a pimple (trying to not alarm me.) Skipper shooed the rest of the kids out “doc” stopped the breathing (I mean bleeding) and put some orange stuff on. I laughed so hard when Skipper pulled me over to look at the sunset. My appreciation of “nature’s beauty”, you know.

  Doc put on some orange stuff, and my dried up “tumor” clung to my nose unnoticibly. I had such fun with Betsy and Gayle, because they thought I was sort of hysterical.

  Please do send my nailnipper, for I have “tingrown-oenails.”

  June 4*

  Thursday

  Today is really beautiful. The sun is shining brightly and we played badminton in the tennis court. My stroke is really atrocious, and Betsy won, two to three. At lunch I stuffed myself like a hog. – two bowls of vegetable soup, on
e piece of bread, two helpings of raisin and carrot salad, two helpings of potatoes and cabbage, a piece of cake, and seven cups of milk. I try so hard to drink water, but it doesn’t work out so well. I have enough liquid, though. I have loads of pals here. Tomorrow we’re having the last rehearsal for the minstrel show we’re having on Saturday, for another unit. I almost died, for I was unanimously elected the “guest star,” Frank Sinatra. I have, so they say, the perfect build. However I have the voice of a lovesick horse, and can you imagine me getting out on the floor wailing “Prisoner of Love”* off key! I can’t get out of it and still be a good sport, so I just guess I’ll dooo it. I really think Gayle is swell. She is so sweet, and is a wonderful sport. I am having such fun, and have good ideas for two poems. I do hope you will like them. In my next card (or letter) I will describe the most beautiful morning I have ever seen, and then I will describe the sunset. We had the most beautiful cobweb almost bigger than me, out in front of our cabin between two trees. All the cobwebs were dew spangled, and were draped about in misty beauty all over the place.

  Love,

  “Siv”

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Thursday 4 July 1946

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  July 4, 1946

  Dear Mother,

  I do hope that the mail you get from me does not come too unevenly. The cards you get are collected at 4:00, and no mail is collected today or on Sunday, and sometimes I don’t finish them on time, so you see how it is. I hope you got my letter.

  In swimming we began to do dives from the dock. Doris Toabe* and I had a terrible time. She jumped this afternoon, but I tried to dive. I ended up in doing a couple of belly-flops. I washed my hair today, as well as washing my socks that I have (you said to) so far used. It was really good to get it over with, (washing, I mean).

  Lots of love,

  “Siv”

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Friday 5 July 1946

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  July 5, 1946

  Dear Mother,

  Could you please tell me when to start writing to you at the Isle of Shoals. Last night we had a nice formal retreat and a lovely campfire on the beach. We sang songs, and the art leader told us a nice story. After we had watched the sun sink in a fold of gold and red behind the purple hills, we went in the mess hall and had some wonderful icecream. Even though I am having a horrid time diving, I was very happy today to hear Splash say that I had a very good side stroke. I am now lying in the field sunbathing. I had a beautiful time in boating, for I love to row, and can, if I say so myself, row quite well. Check up on my scheaffer pen to see that its still there!

  Siv

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Friday 5 July 1946

  ALS (postcard), Indiana University

  July 5, 1946

  Dear Mater,

  I am in a very good mood today, which is rather odd, because my caper was to clean out the latrines. I hope that you aren’t discouraged, but I sunbathed out in the field today, and I got a slight burn, but I was rubbing toothpaste on it, so it didn’t hurt at all. I should be gaining weight! Just listen to what I had for lunch:

  Two bowls of noodle soup

  One slice of bread

  Two helpings of potatoes and cabbage

  Two helpings of salad (including lettuce, cheese, peas, eggs)

  Three bowls of custard

  One cup of milk – two of cocoa.

  I’m eating so much, no matter what, or how horrible it is, that I can hardly walk after each meal.

  Love,

  Sylvia

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Sunday 7 July 1946

  ALS on Wellesley, Mass. letterhead,*

  Indiana University

  July 7, 1946

  Dear Mother,

  I do hope that you are getting all of my mail. So far, and this is Sunday morning, I have gotten three letters* and a postcard from you, and a nice letter from Grammy, Grampy, Frank and Louise

  I do not like to tell you, but I have come down with a miserable cold. I am so mad! Betsy had a slight one, and I caught it from her, only mine is much worse. As I have no temperature, the nurse does not think that it is much. The only relief I get is when she puts nose drops up in the night. My nose is stuffed, and I feel so badly that I won’t be able to go swimming for a long time.

  I also had the cold yesterday. Yesterday was a miserably cold, rainy day, and all we did was rehearse for the variety show we gave to the Ridge Unit last night. It made quite a hit.

  I was dressed in a white men’s shirt, gray slacks, bow tie, and jacket with my hair pulled back for Frankie. I leaned against the piano for my microphone was a broom with a cup on top. The funny part about it was that Betsy sang and played the piano, while made gestures, and opend my mouth to silently form the words. The people who did not know Betsy’s voice actually believed that I was singing. It made quite a hit since I stopped to blow my nose once at the end, while Betsy kept on singing.

  I was also in “Casey at the Bat” – the umpire. I wore an old sweatshirt and my handy green visor cap back wards. For both acts my hair was tightly skinned back in the way you dislike so much. Casey was such a riot that we had to do it over again. It was really fun, but, to tell the truth, I’m glad to have it over with. This morning, Ricky, my unit leader (oh! is she super!) did not make me get up for breakfast, but I stayed in my own cosy cabin bed, which I had just changed, and I was not made to go to the infirmary. Ricky is certainly sweet.

  By the way, on the next visiting day (next Sunday) if you are not coming, there is the slight, very slight in fact, possibility of my being taken across the lake by one certain Anne Brown. That is, if her aunt is home. If I am asked, will you mind my going? I am ready to jump at the opportunity, but if you would rather have me not go, it will be all right. This Anne has taken a fancy to Betsy and me, but Betsy can’t go for her parents are coming. I like Anne somewhat, but truthfully, she is spoiled and sometimes stupidly unresponsive.

  I had an awful sunburn, but as sunburns are not supposed to be had, I kept quiet. Gloria,* however, rubbed some cream on it so it doesn’t hurt any more.

  Friday night Gayle slept in the same bed, and so did Sally* and I. We slept quite well and I do not think the counsellors found out, for we were quiet and slept quite well. I sort of wish they had, for I get a better sleep alone, and don’t want them to think I’m a sissy and get mad. So--- I’m using diplomacy. A good case of imaginary cramps and three tablespoons of “medicine” (magnesia) convinced Betsy. I’m using my cold for an excuse not to have anyone sleep in my bed, and I’ll think up something better later.

  Last night we put on our pajamas and our Cove Unit went down to Skipper’s cabin and listened to the radio after taps while having delicious punch and cookies. Having a wonderful time. Write soon.

  Loads of love,

  Sylvia

  xxxx

  TO Aurelia Schober Plath

  Monday 8 July 1946

  ALS with envelope, on Wellesley,

  Mass. letterhead, Indiana University

  Monday

  July 8, 1946

  Dear, Dear Mother,

  I do hope that you are at the Isle of Shoals now, and that you get my letters. Yesterday was Sunday, so we got no mail. I have got letters and a card from you dated Sunday – June 30, Monday – July 1, Tuesday – July 2 and Wednesday – July 3. Grammy’s letter was written July 5. Tonight, however, I hope to get alot of letters.

  Last night, Sunday, we had a lovely Scouts’ Own on the beach. The unit that was giving it sang lovely prayers and songs, and read some beautiful poetry. We sat and watched the firey ball of sun sink over the misty purple hills before leaving. By the way, yesterday we had the following for Sunday dinner: chicken, fluffy white mashed potatoes, peas, icecream and cupcakes. Boy! was it good.

  Yesterday “
Frenchie,” our Arts and Crafts teacher took eight girls from different units on a two hour sketching trip. I was the only one from our unit that went. The other seven girls evidently had taken lessons, for they looked experienced. I gaily started out, feeling somewhat inexperienced and inferior. We hiked along the dusty road until we came to the quaintest little old house nestled in the trees. We sat down across the road and began to draw. I used broad pencils, and they are swell. I was eager to see the work of the others, and was surprised to see that it was not at all much better than mine. In fact, only one came up to mine. When the girl-next to me showed my drawing to Frenchie, she asked me if I was taking art lessons. When I said no, she snapped, “Why not! You should lap up all the instruction you can get!” I do think that I will take viola with Mrs. Bates next year, and try to save up toward art (preferably sketching) lessons, for I love it so. In crafts I am making a tiny tinish nut spoon for $.35!!!! It is fat and crooked, and looks like this If it comes out nice enough I intend to give it to Dot for Christmas, so don’t tell her. Arts is wonderful, there are so many grand things to do. Last night the whole unit was supposed to sleep on the beach for preparation for the overnight hike on Thursday. I most likely could have gone if I had insisted, but Rikki said I had better not, since I had a nasty cold. I had the cold only Saturday and Sunday. To tell the truth, I really was glad not to go, for I would probably not be well enough to go on the hike to fisherman’s cove Tuesday, and that I will not miss. I moved my quilt into Anne Brown’s cabin, for we were the only two not going. I fell into a comfortable sleep at 9:15 and woke up at 7:15 and went back to my cabin. I felt rested and my cold was all gone. I was doubly glad that I didn’t sleep out because the girls got no more than a meager five hrs sleep, and were awfully cold.

  I felt fine and wide awake. Our unit cooked out on the beach (twelve girls). The other half had breakfast in the hall. Bets and I made the best fire, even though It did not start right away, we beat the others. We had three crisp, delicious pieces of bacon and an egg apiece cooked on our own private tin can stove. We also had milk, oranges, and I ate five muffins. I enjoyed it so. While we went to crafts, Skipper cut my clothesline down and took it away, saying, “Hmph! Clotheslines are unheard of at camp!” Boy, I sure was mad! Betsy, Gloria, and I made an agreement never to do something, and if we did, we bought each of the others something worth 5¢ at canteen. Now I owe Gloria 5¢, but she owes me 10¢ and Betsy 10¢, so I really gain 5¢! Do send the nailnipper, for my ingrown toenail is infected and awfully swollen. Every time I touch it pus comes out. Now that my cold is over, I really feel wonderful. We’re not supposed to get sun on us, but because “to finish up my cold” Rikki gave me permission to lie out in the field for a couple of minutes. My aim is to get very tan (in secret, if possible.)