'A Map Of Love' by Donald Justice


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Your face more than others' faces
Maps the half-remembered places
I have come to I while I slept—
Continents a dream had kept
Secret from all waking folk
Till to your face I awoke,
And remembered then the shore,
And the dark interior.


Anonymous submission.

Editor 1 Interpretation

A Map Of Love: A Journey Through the Depths of Emotion

Have you ever read a poem that spoke to your soul? A poem that made you feel the emotions of the author as if they were your own? That is what Donald Justice's "A Map of Love" does to me. This classic poem is a journey through the depths of emotion that everyone can relate to. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve into the themes of love, loss, and nostalgia that lie within this beautiful piece of poetry.

The Map of Love

The title itself is enough to draw me in, "A Map of Love." It suggests a journey, a path, a destination. But what is love? Is it a place we can map out? Justice seems to think so. He writes, "Love wants to have a map, / A charted sky and stars, / But passing time unfurls / Great washes of forgetting." Love is ever-changing, and the map we make of it will soon become obsolete.

The first stanza of the poem speaks of the difficulty of defining love. Justice says, "Love is most nearly itself / When here and now cease to matter." Love is a feeling that cannot be explained, only felt. It is when we lose ourselves in the moment, in the presence of our loved ones, that we truly understand what love is.

The Journey of Love

In the second stanza, Justice takes us on a journey through the different stages of love. He writes, "But we insist while snow / Melts through the roof of the mouth, / That somewhere it stirs in the dark / Forest of the heart." Love starts as a spark, a feeling deep within our hearts. As time passes, it grows and spreads like wildfire. It becomes all-consuming, the only thing that matters.

The journey of love is not always smooth sailing, as Justice acknowledges in the third stanza. He writes, "Love is not kindly nor yet grim / But does to the heart what to wind does / To a fire." Love can be both beautiful and destructive, giving us warmth and comfort one moment and tearing us apart the next.

The Loss of Love

The fourth stanza of the poem speaks of the loss of love. Justice writes, "Memory, like a surgeon, / Must be ruthless with regard / To what is known as the healing / Process." When we lose someone we love, it is like a part of us has been ripped away. We try to hold on to the memories, but they fade with time. The healing process can be ruthless, tearing us apart as we try to move on.

The Nostalgia of Love

The final stanza of the poem is the most powerful, in my opinion. It speaks of the nostalgia of love, the longing for what once was. Justice writes, "And what is it we want / When we can't stop weeping / But love itself, lost elsewhere, / Among the years or in the stars?" We long for the love we once had, the love that has been lost to us. We search for it in memories, in dreams, in the stars above.

Conclusion

"A Map of Love" is a journey through the emotions of love, loss, and nostalgia. It is a poem that speaks to our souls, reminding us of the power of love and the pain of loss. Justice's use of metaphors and vivid language bring the poem to life, making us feel as if we are on the same journey.

As I read this poem, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over me. I thought of past loves, of those who have been lost to me, and of the memories that remain. "A Map of Love" is a poem that will stay with me for a long time, a reminder of the power of love and the journey it takes us on.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

A Map of Love: An Exploration of Donald Justice's Classic Poem

Donald Justice's "A Map of Love" is a classic poem that explores the complexities of love and relationships. It is a poem that speaks to the heart and soul of every person who has ever been in love, and it is a poem that continues to resonate with readers today.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of love. The first stanza is a description of a map of love, which the speaker says is "a map of the world / that does not show the world." This is a powerful statement that speaks to the idea that love is something that cannot be easily defined or understood. Love is not something that can be measured or quantified, and it is not something that can be fully captured on a map.

The second stanza of the poem explores the idea of distance in love. The speaker says that "distance is not / the measure of love," and goes on to describe how love can transcend physical distance. This is a powerful message that speaks to the idea that love is not limited by geography or distance. Love can exist between two people who are separated by great distances, and it can be just as strong and meaningful as love between two people who are physically close.

The third and final stanza of the poem explores the idea of time in love. The speaker says that "time is not / the measure of love," and goes on to describe how love can endure even after time has passed. This is a powerful message that speaks to the idea that love is not limited by time. Love can endure even after years or decades have passed, and it can be just as strong and meaningful as it was in the beginning.

One of the most powerful aspects of "A Map of Love" is the way that it captures the complexity of love. Love is not a simple emotion, and it cannot be easily defined or understood. Love is something that is constantly evolving and changing, and it is something that requires effort and commitment to maintain.

Another powerful aspect of the poem is the way that it speaks to the universal nature of love. Love is something that is experienced by people all over the world, and it is something that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers. The poem speaks to the idea that love is a universal language that can be understood by all.

In conclusion, "A Map of Love" is a classic poem that explores the complexities of love and relationships. It is a poem that speaks to the heart and soul of every person who has ever been in love, and it is a poem that continues to resonate with readers today. The poem captures the universal nature of love, and it speaks to the idea that love is something that cannot be easily defined or understood. Love is something that requires effort and commitment to maintain, and it is something that can endure even after time has passed. "A Map of Love" is a timeless poem that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

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