'Love' by Robert Creeley


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The thing comes
of itself

(Look up
to see
the cat & the squirrel,
the one
torn, a red thing,
& the other
somehow immaculate

Editor 1 Interpretation

Love: A Poem by Robert Creeley

Introduction

When it comes to love poetry, Robert Creeley's "Love" is the perfect example of a modernist poem that captures the essence of love in its simplest form. Published in 1962, Creeley's "Love" is a short yet powerful poem that explores the complexities of love and relationships through simple and direct language. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, structure, language, and imagery of "Love" to understand how Creeley captures the essence of love and relationships in this classic poem.

Themes

The theme of love is central to Creeley's poem. More specifically, the poem explores the complexities of love in relationships. Creeley uses the poem to capture the fleeting, elusive, and oftentimes ambiguous nature of love. The poem is a reflection of the struggles that people go through in relationships, and the inherent contradictions that exist within the concept of love itself.

Structure

The structure of the poem is simple but effective. It consists of six stanzas, each containing two lines. The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. This gives the poem a conversational tone, as if Creeley is speaking directly to the reader. The lack of structure also mirrors the ambiguity of love and relationships, which can often be unpredictable and chaotic.

Language

The language of "Love" is simple yet powerful. Creeley uses direct and concise language to convey complex emotions and ideas. The language is also highly personal, as if Creeley is drawing from his own experiences of love and relationships. The use of personal pronouns such as "you" and "me" creates a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the reader.

Imagery

The imagery in "Love" is sparse but effective. Creeley uses simple and direct language to create vivid images of love and relationships. The imagery is highly personal, and reflects the speaker's own experiences of love and relationships. For example, the line "love comes quietly" creates an image of love as a subtle and gentle force that creeps up on you when you least expect it. The line "we are alone with it" creates an image of the intimacy of love, and how it can create a sense of isolation and solitude even when you are with someone else.

Interpretation

In "Love," Creeley explores the complexities of love and relationships through simple and direct language. The poem is highly personal, and reflects the speaker's own experiences of love and relationships. The structure of the poem is simple but effective, with no set rhyme or meter. This gives the poem a conversational tone, as if Creeley is speaking directly to the reader.

The poem is a reflection of the struggles that people go through in relationships, and the inherent contradictions that exist within the concept of love itself. Creeley captures the fleeting, elusive, and oftentimes ambiguous nature of love through imagery and language that is highly personal and intimate. The use of personal pronouns creates a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the reader, and the lack of structure mirrors the unpredictability of love and relationships.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Robert Creeley's "Love" is a modernist poem that captures the essence of love and relationships through simple and direct language. The poem explores the complexities of love in relationships, and the inherent contradictions that exist within the concept of love itself. The structure of the poem is simple but effective, with no set rhyme or meter, creating a conversational tone that mirrors the unpredictability of love and relationships. The language of the poem is highly personal and intimate, reflecting the speaker's own experiences of love and relationships. Through vivid imagery, Creeley captures the fleeting, elusive, and oftentimes ambiguous nature of love and relationships. "Love" is a timeless poem that continues to resonate with readers today, reminding us of the power and complexities of love in our lives.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Love by Robert Creeley is a classic poem that has been widely celebrated for its simplicity and depth. The poem is a perfect example of how a few carefully chosen words can convey powerful emotions and ideas. In this analysis, we will explore the various themes and literary devices used in the poem to understand its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the line "Love, if you love me, lie next to me." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem and establishes the central theme of love. The speaker is addressing their lover and asking them to be physically close to them. This line also suggests that the speaker is seeking comfort and intimacy from their lover.

The second line of the poem is "Be for me, like rain, the getting out of the tiredness, the fatuousness, the semi-lust of intentional indifference." This line is a metaphor comparing the lover to rain. Rain is often associated with renewal and rejuvenation, and the speaker is asking their lover to be like rain and help them get out of their tiredness and indifference. The use of the word "semi-lust" suggests that the speaker is not just physically tired but also emotionally drained.

The third line of the poem is "Be wet with a decent happiness." This line is a continuation of the rain metaphor, and the speaker is asking their lover to be happy and content. The use of the word "decent" suggests that the speaker is looking for a genuine and sincere happiness, not just a superficial one.

The fourth line of the poem is "No more laundries, no more portraits with their proud red lips." This line is a departure from the rain metaphor and introduces a new theme of materialism. The speaker is rejecting the idea of material possessions and superficial beauty. The use of the word "laundries" suggests that the speaker is tired of the mundane tasks of everyday life, and the use of the word "portraits" suggests that the speaker is tired of the artificiality of beauty.

The fifth line of the poem is "Love, if you love me, lie next to me." This line is a repetition of the opening line, and it reinforces the central theme of love and intimacy.

The sixth line of the poem is "Be for me like rain, the getting out of the smell of the sea." This line is a continuation of the rain metaphor, and the speaker is asking their lover to help them get out of the smell of the sea. The sea is often associated with vastness and infinity, and the use of the word "smell" suggests that the speaker is overwhelmed by the vastness of the world.

The seventh line of the poem is "Be the strong, wet arm around my neck." This line is a continuation of the rain metaphor, and the speaker is asking their lover to be a source of strength and support. The use of the word "wet" suggests that the speaker is seeking comfort and intimacy from their lover.

The eighth line of the poem is "Be for me the water of life and the voice of death." This line is a departure from the rain metaphor and introduces a new theme of life and death. The speaker is asking their lover to be both a source of life and a reminder of death. The use of the word "water" suggests that the speaker is seeking renewal and rejuvenation, and the use of the word "voice" suggests that the speaker is seeking a reminder of mortality.

The ninth line of the poem is "Be for me the madness of love and the calm of the sea at night." This line is a continuation of the rain metaphor, and the speaker is asking their lover to be both passionate and calm. The use of the word "madness" suggests that the speaker is seeking intense emotions, and the use of the word "calm" suggests that the speaker is seeking peace and tranquility.

The final line of the poem is "Be the night, with its stars and its vastness." This line is a departure from the rain metaphor and introduces a new theme of the night sky. The speaker is asking their lover to be like the night sky, with its vastness and infinite possibilities. The use of the word "stars" suggests that the speaker is seeking something beyond themselves, something transcendent and eternal.

In conclusion, Love by Robert Creeley is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of love, intimacy, materialism, life, death, and transcendence. The use of metaphors and repetition creates a sense of unity and coherence throughout the poem, and the simple language and structure make it accessible to a wide audience. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the human desire for connection and meaning.

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