'Come' by Sarah Teasdale


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Come, when the pale moon like a petal
Floats in the pearly dusk of spring,
Come with arms outstretched to take me,
Come with lips pursed up to cling.

Come, for life is a frail moth flying,
Caught in the web of the years that pass,
And soon we two, so warm and eager,
Will be as the gray stones in the grass.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"Come" by Sara Teasdale: A Heartfelt Invocation of Love and Longing

Sara Teasdale's "Come" is a poem that captures the essence of longing and desire. The poem speaks to the universal human experience of yearning for love, companionship, and intimacy. Through her use of language, imagery, and metaphor, Teasdale paints a vivid picture of the emotional landscape of a person in love. This literary criticism and interpretation delves into the themes and motifs of the poem, as well as its stylistic features and historical context.

Background and Context

Sara Teasdale (1884-1933) was an American poet known for her lyrical style and romantic themes. She was one of the leading voices of the early 20th century poetry scene, along with contemporaries such as Edna St. Vincent Millay and Edith Wharton. Teasdale's writing was often characterized by its emotional intensity and its exploration of the complexities of love and relationships.

"Come" was published in Teasdale's 1920 collection "Flame and Shadow," which was well received by critics and readers alike. The poem is a prime example of Teasdale's poetic style, which blends traditional forms with modern sensibilities. "Come" is a sonnet, a form that traditionally consists of fourteen lines of iambic pentameter. However, Teasdale's sonnet deviates from the strict rhyming scheme and meter of the traditional form. Instead, she employs a looser, more conversational style that allows for greater emotional expression and flexibility.

Themes and Motifs

The central theme of "Come" is the longing for love and intimacy. The speaker of the poem is addressing her lover, urging them to come to her and fulfill her deepest desires. The poem is suffused with a sense of urgency and desperation, as the speaker implores her lover to "come quickly" and "come soon." The repeated use of the word "come" creates a sense of longing and anticipation, as if the speaker is willing her lover to appear before her.

Another important motif in the poem is the contrast between darkness and light. The speaker describes herself as being "in the dark," which can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically. On one level, she may be referring to the physical darkness of the night, which obscures her lover's presence. On another level, she may be describing her emotional state, which is characterized by a sense of loneliness and isolation. The repeated references to light, such as "the night is starry and the stars are blue and shiver in the distance," suggest that the speaker is looking for a source of illumination to brighten her life.

Imagery and Metaphor

One of the most striking features of "Come" is its vivid imagery. The poem is filled with sensory details that bring the scene to life. The image of the "night" is central to the poem, and Teasdale uses it to create a sense of mystery and longing. The night is described as "starry" and "blue," which suggests a sense of beauty and wonder. At the same time, the night is also described as "shiver[ing]" in the distance, which creates a sense of unease and tension.

Another important image in the poem is the use of water. The speaker describes herself as being "thirsty" and "sick with longing," which creates a sense of dryness and emptiness. In contrast, the image of water suggests a sense of abundance and renewal. The speaker implores her lover to "pour" themselves into her, which creates a sense of intimacy and closeness.

The use of metaphor is also central to the poem. The repeated use of the word "come" creates a sense of movement and action, as if the speaker is urging her lover to physically come to her. At the same time, the word "come" can also be interpreted as a metaphor for intimacy and connection. The speaker is not just asking her lover to physically come to her, but to emotionally and spiritually connect with her.

Interpretation and Analysis

"Come" is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience of longing and desire. The poem captures the emotional landscape of a person in love, who is yearning for intimacy and connection. Teasdale's use of language, imagery, and metaphor create a vivid picture of the speaker's emotional state, and evoke a sense of sympathy and empathy in the reader.

The central theme of the poem is the desire for love and intimacy. The speaker is addressing her lover, urging them to come to her and fulfill her deepest desires. The sense of urgency and desperation in the poem suggests that the speaker is in a state of emotional distress, and is seeking solace and comfort. The use of water imagery suggests that the speaker is thirsty for emotional connection, and is seeking to be replenished.

The contrast between darkness and light is another important motif in the poem. The darkness represents the emotional isolation and loneliness of the speaker, while the light represents the possibility of renewal and connection. The use of the night imagery suggests that the speaker is in a state of emotional darkness, and is seeking a source of illumination to brighten her life.

The use of the sonnet form is significant in the poem, as it creates a sense of intimacy and closeness between the speaker and the lover. The looser, more conversational style of Teasdale's sonnet allows for greater emotional expression and flexibility, and creates a sense of immediacy and urgency.

Conclusion

"Come" is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience of longing and desire. Teasdale's use of language, imagery, and metaphor create a vivid picture of the emotional landscape of a person in love. The poem captures the sense of urgency and desperation that accompanies the desire for intimacy and connection, and creates a sense of empathy and sympathy in the reader. Through its use of the sonnet form and its contrast between darkness and light, the poem creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy that draws the reader in. Overall, "Come" is a heartfelt invocation of love and longing, and a moving testament to the power of human connection.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry is a form of art that has been around for centuries, and it has always been a way for people to express their deepest emotions and thoughts. One of the most beautiful and moving poems of all time is "Come" by Sarah Teasdale. This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of love, longing, and the desire to be with someone you love.

The poem "Come" is a short but powerful piece that consists of only four stanzas. Each stanza is composed of four lines, and the poem follows a simple ABAB rhyme scheme. Despite its simplicity, the poem is incredibly moving and evocative, and it has the power to touch the hearts of anyone who reads it.

The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the piece. It begins with the words "Come to me in the silence of the night," which immediately creates a sense of longing and desire. The speaker is calling out to someone they love, asking them to come to them in the darkness when everything is quiet and still. This creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability, as the speaker is opening themselves up to the person they love.

The second stanza of the poem continues this theme of longing and desire. The speaker says, "Come in the speaking silence of a dream," which suggests that they are dreaming of the person they love. The use of the word "speaking" is interesting here, as it implies that the silence of the dream is not really silent at all. Instead, it is filled with the unspoken words and emotions that the speaker feels for the person they love.

The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker says, "Come with soft rounded cheeks and eyes as bright as sunlight on a stream." This description of the person they love is incredibly vivid and evocative, and it creates a sense of beauty and perfection. The use of the word "soft" suggests that the person is gentle and kind, while the description of their eyes as "bright as sunlight on a stream" creates a sense of warmth and radiance.

The final stanza of the poem brings everything together. The speaker says, "Come back to me, my love, my life." This line is incredibly powerful, as it suggests that the person they love is not currently with them. The use of the words "my love" and "my life" creates a sense of ownership and possession, as if the speaker cannot live without the person they love. The final line of the poem, "Come back to me, and bring me peace," is a beautiful and poignant way to end the piece. It suggests that the person the speaker loves is not just a source of desire and longing, but also a source of comfort and solace.

Overall, "Come" by Sarah Teasdale is a beautiful and moving poem that captures the essence of love and longing. The use of vivid imagery and evocative language creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability, and the simple ABAB rhyme scheme gives the poem a sense of structure and rhythm. This is a poem that speaks to the heart, and it is sure to touch the hearts of anyone who reads it.

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