Context

This is from the poem "Lady Lazarus" by Sylvia Plath (1962).

When most people think of Sylvia Plath they probably think of a woman who a) was an awesome poet and b) committed suicide. It's true that Plath died when she was only thirty years old after sticking her head in an oven and inhaling the fumes. It's also true that one of her best-known poems, "Lady Lazarus," is all about her brushes with death.

In this poem, Plath takes us through her various suicide attempts. The first three lines say it all—she's attempted to kill herself twice before and she's going to do it again. She manages to put off her death and resurrection every decade—first when she was ten and then when she was twenty. Now, she tells us, she's thirty. It's time for another miracle. Oh, this is not looking good.

This first line hints at the way Plath sees her near-death experiences. They're kind of an entertainment. She tries to die, but then comes back—just like the time Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave. It's a marvel and an achievement that she's managed to pull off time and time again. Of course, on her next attempt, there would be no second act.

Where you've heard it

This is a pretty famous line from a pretty famous poem, but you probably hear it mostly in regards to people talking about the poet herself or suicide in general. We know, it's a bummer.

Additional Notable References: 

• "Lady Lazarus" is the title of an episode of Mad Men.
• Sylvia is a 2003 movie all about the life of Sylvia Plath and her various brushes with poetry and death.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

We don't think this quote is pretentious, but letting it fly without any warning might make people wonder if you're doing okay.