'Not Love Perhaps' by A.S.J. Tessimond
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This is not Love, perhaps,
Love that lays down its life,
that many waters cannot quench,
nor the floods drown,
But something written in lighter ink,
said in a lower tone, something, perhaps, especially our own.
A need, at times, to be together and talk,
And then the finding we can walk
More firmly through dark narrow places,
And meet more easily nightmare faces;
A need to reach out, sometimes, hand to hand,
And then find Earth less like an alien land;
A need for alliance to defeat
The whisperers at the corner of the street.
A need for inns on roads, islands in seas,
Halts for discoveries to be shared,
Maps checked, notes compared;
A need, at times, of each for each,
Direct as the need of throat and tongue for speech.
Submitted by Stephen Fryer
Editor 1 Interpretation
Not Love Perhaps by A.S.J. Tessimond - A Criticism and Interpretation
Have you ever experienced love? That sweet, intoxicating feeling that makes your heart race and your thoughts spin? A feeling that makes you do crazy things without even thinking twice about it? Well, A.S.J. Tessimond's poem, "Not Love Perhaps," challenges this notion of love and instead presents a more somber and realistic view of relationships.
Overview
At first glance, "Not Love Perhaps" seems to be a love poem, but a closer look reveals a much darker and sadder story. The poem is about a man who is reflecting on his past relationships and questioning if what he felt was truly love or something else entirely.
The poem is divided into four stanzas, each with four lines. The first and third lines of each stanza rhyme, while the second and fourth lines are unrhymed. The poem's structure creates a sense of symmetry, but the content of each stanza is far from it.
Analysis
The poem begins with the line, "Not love perhaps, but how then shall I face" (line 1). This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is questioning if what he felt was love or something else entirely. The use of the word "perhaps" suggests uncertainty, and the rest of the poem is an attempt to answer this question.
The second stanza focuses on the physical aspects of the speaker's past relationships. The line "Your arms have not been always around me" (line 5) suggests that the speaker's partner was not always there for him. The line "But who embraces loneliness like the one" (line 6) hints at the speaker's reliance on his partner to fill a void in his life. The final two lines of the stanza, "Who has no choice but to reach inward and take / And take till he is grasping the very thing?" (lines 7-8) suggest that the speaker was using his partner to fill a void in his life.
The third stanza shifts focus to the emotional aspects of the speaker's past relationships. The first line, "Not always as now, when the fire burns low," (line 9) suggests that the speaker's feelings for his partner have changed over time. The line "Waking to think of you, as I did," (line 10) implies that the speaker's thoughts were consumed by his partner. However, the final two lines of the stanza, "But why, why, why did you let me love you?" (lines 11-12) suggest that the speaker's partner may have been using him to fill a void in their own life.
The final stanza of the poem is the most somber. The first line, "Answer me, burning stars of night," (line 13) suggests that the speaker is looking for answers from the universe. The line "Where is the girl of whom you always told" (line 14) implies that the speaker had someone in their life who they thought was perfect but is no longer there. The line "Why did you let me love a lie?" (line 15) suggests that the speaker was deceived and has been hurt by their past relationships. The final line of the poem, "Were you born only to be my grief?" (line 16) is a haunting question that suggests that the speaker feels as though they were meant to suffer in their relationships.
Interpretation
So, what is the poem really about? "Not Love Perhaps" is a poem about the pitfalls of relationships. The speaker is questioning if what they felt was truly love or something else entirely. The poem suggests that the speaker's past relationships were not based on love but on a need to fill a void within themselves.
The poem presents a more somber and realistic view of relationships. It challenges the notion that love is always sweet and intoxicating. Instead, it suggests that relationships can be complicated and can often leave us feeling empty and alone.
Conclusion
In conclusion, A.S.J. Tessimond's "Not Love Perhaps" is a haunting poem that challenges our traditional notions of love. The poem suggests that love is not always sweet and intoxicating but can often leave us feeling empty and alone. The structure of the poem creates a sense of symmetry, but the content of each stanza is far from it. The poem's use of language and imagery creates a sense of uncertainty and unease, which ultimately highlights the complexities of relationships.
So, have you ever experienced love? Or have you, like the speaker in the poem, been left questioning if what you felt was truly love or something else entirely? "Not Love Perhaps" is a poem that speaks to the heart of what it means to be in a relationship and leaves us questioning what we know about love.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Not Love Perhaps: A Poem of the Human Condition
A.S.J. Tessimond's poem "Not Love Perhaps" is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition. Through its use of vivid imagery and metaphor, the poem delves into the complexities of human relationships and the search for meaning and purpose in life.
The poem begins with the speaker questioning the nature of love: "Not love, perhaps, / But how much like love / Divinity moves in mysterious ways." This opening stanza immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker acknowledges the elusiveness of love and the difficulty of defining it. The use of the word "perhaps" also suggests a sense of uncertainty and ambiguity, as if the speaker is not entirely sure what they are searching for.
The second stanza continues this theme of uncertainty, as the speaker describes the "unseen power" that "moves the world." This power is described as "a force that gives and takes away," suggesting that it is both benevolent and destructive. The use of the word "unseen" also emphasizes the mysterious and intangible nature of this force, which seems to be beyond human comprehension.
In the third stanza, the speaker turns their attention to the human condition, describing the "lonely heart" that "seeks its own delight." This line captures the essence of human desire, as we all seek happiness and fulfillment in our own way. However, the use of the word "lonely" suggests that this quest for happiness can be a solitary and isolating experience.
The fourth stanza introduces the idea of mortality, as the speaker describes the "brief candle" of human life that "flickers out." This line is a reference to Shakespeare's Macbeth, where the character of Macbeth describes life as "a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing." The use of this quote reinforces the idea that human life is fleeting and ultimately meaningless.
The fifth stanza returns to the theme of love, as the speaker describes the "tender touch" that "brings us close." This line suggests that love is a powerful force that can bring people together and create a sense of intimacy and connection. However, the use of the word "tender" also suggests a fragility and vulnerability, as if this connection is easily broken.
The sixth and final stanza brings the poem full circle, as the speaker returns to the idea of divinity and the mysterious force that moves the world. The final line, "Not love, perhaps, / But something like love," suggests that while the speaker may not have found the answer to their question, they have come to a deeper understanding of the nature of love and the human condition.
Overall, "Not Love Perhaps" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. Through its use of vivid imagery and metaphor, the poem captures the complexity and ambiguity of human relationships, the search for meaning and purpose in life, and the mysterious forces that shape our world. Whether read as a meditation on love, mortality, or the human condition as a whole, this poem is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.
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