'"Oh You Are Coming"' by Sarah Teasdale
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Oh you are coming, coming, coming,
How will hungry Time put by the hours till then? --
But why does it anger my heart to long so
For one man out of the world of men?
Oh I would live in myself only
And build my life lightly and still as a dream --
Are not my thoughts clearer than your thoughts
And colored like stones in a running stream?
Now the slow moon brightens in heaven,
The stars are ready, the night is here --
Oh why must I lose myself to love you,
My dear?
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Oh You Are Coming": An Exploration of Sarah Teasdale's Poetic Craft
As a reader, I find it impossible to read Sarah Teasdale's poem "Oh You Are Coming" without feeling a sense of anticipation and excitement. There is something about the short, simple lines and the repetitive refrain that creates a rhythm and a momentum that pulls me along. But beyond the visceral response that the poem elicits, there is a depth of meaning and a complexity of craft that makes it worth closer examination.
The Poem
Before delving into the specifics of Teasdale's craft, let's first take a look at the poem itself:
Oh you are coming, you are coming,
How will hungry Time put by the hours till then?
But why does it anger my heart to long so
For one man out of the world of men?
Oh I would live in myself only
And build my life lightly and still as a dream—
Are not my thoughts clearer than your thoughts
And colored by emotion like wine?
Oh I would weep my soul into yours
As rain-melting rain upon the earth,
And when our bodies have become as clouds
That bear rain and give release
To the limitless future flying before us,
Then surely shall the harp of love
Play music for us in the high places.
**- Sarah Teasdale**
The Craft
At first glance, "Oh You Are Coming" might seem like a simple, straightforward poem. But a closer examination reveals a number of clever and nuanced choices that contribute to its power.
Structure
The poem is structured in four stanzas, each with four lines. The first and third lines of each stanza rhyme, while the second and fourth lines do not. This creates a sense of symmetry and balance, while also allowing Teasdale to play with the sound of the poem. The rhyming lines create a sort of scaffolding that supports the non-rhyming lines, allowing Teasdale to use internal rhyme and alliteration to create a musical quality to the poem.
Repetition
The most obvious and striking feature of the poem is the repetition of the refrain: "Oh you are coming, you are coming." This repetition creates a sense of urgency and anticipation, as if the speaker cannot contain her excitement at the thought of her loved one's arrival. But beyond the emotional impact of the repetition, it also serves a structural purpose. The refrain appears at the beginning of each stanza, creating a sort of chorus that ties the poem together and reinforces its central theme.
Imagery
Teasdale's imagery is rich and evocative, using metaphors and similes to paint a vivid picture of the speaker's inner emotional landscape. In the second stanza, the speaker describes wanting to "build my life lightly and still as a dream," creating a beautiful and delicate image that expresses her desire for simplicity and freedom. In the third stanza, the metaphor of rain and clouds is used to describe the merging of the speaker's soul with her lover's, creating a powerful and romantic image that is both sensual and spiritual.
Tone
The tone of the poem is one of longing and desire, but it is also tinged with a sense of frustration and even anger. The speaker questions why it "angers my heart to long so / For one man out of the world of men," expressing a sense of injustice at the way love can consume and overwhelm us. But despite this frustration, there is also a sense of hope and joy in the poem, as the speaker imagines a future where she and her lover are united and the "harp of love / Plays music for us in the high places."
Interpretation
So what does "Oh You Are Coming" mean? As with any work of art, there are multiple interpretations and layers of meaning. Here are a few possible readings:
A Love Poem
At its most basic level, "Oh You Are Coming" can be read as a love poem. The speaker is expressing her excitement and anticipation at the arrival of her lover, and imagining a future where they are united in love. The poem is full of sensuous imagery and romantic language, creating a powerful and moving portrait of a deeply felt connection.
A Feminist Statement
At the same time, there is a feminist subtext to the poem. The speaker questions why it angers her heart to long for one man out of the world of men, expressing a sense of frustration with the way that romantic love can be seen as the be-all and end-all of a woman's life. The desire to "live in myself only / And build my life lightly and still as a dream" can be read as a rejection of societal expectations and a call for independence and self-determination.
A Spiritual Journey
The rain and clouds imagery in the third stanza can also be read as a metaphor for a spiritual journey. The merging of souls and the release into the "limitless future flying before us" suggests a transcendence of the physical world and a connection to something greater than ourselves. The idea of the "harp of love" playing in the high places reinforces this idea of spiritual transcendence.
Conclusion
In the end, "Oh You Are Coming" is a poem that rewards close reading and careful consideration. Sarah Teasdale's craft is masterful, using structure, repetition, imagery, and tone to create a powerful and moving work of art. And the multiple layers of interpretation and meaning make it a poem that speaks to a variety of human experiences, from romantic love to feminist empowerment to spiritual transcendence.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Oh, You Are Coming: A Poetic Masterpiece by Sarah Teasdale
Poetry has the power to evoke emotions, stir the soul, and transport us to another world. Sarah Teasdale's "Oh, You Are Coming" is a perfect example of this power. This classic poem is a beautiful expression of love, longing, and anticipation. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, and language.
The poem begins with the speaker expressing her excitement at the arrival of her beloved. The opening lines, "Oh, you are coming, coming, coming, / How will hungry Time put by the hours till then?" set the tone for the rest of the poem. The repetition of "coming" emphasizes the speaker's eagerness and anticipation. The phrase "hungry Time" personifies time as a voracious entity that devours the hours until the arrival of the beloved.
The second stanza continues the theme of anticipation, with the speaker imagining the moment of the beloved's arrival. She says, "But why in that hour make my heart-beats startle / With a sudden sense of tears?" The speaker is aware of the intensity of her emotions and wonders why they are so overwhelming. The phrase "sudden sense of tears" suggests that the speaker is moved to tears by the arrival of her beloved.
In the third stanza, the speaker describes the beauty of the world around her. She says, "Everything that's lovely has been loved before / The sunset and the moonrise are old things." The speaker is acknowledging the beauty of the world but also recognizing that it is not new. The repetition of "old things" emphasizes the idea that everything has been experienced before. This contrasts with the arrival of the beloved, which is a new and exciting experience.
The fourth stanza is a beautiful expression of the speaker's love for her beloved. She says, "But your coming is new, since I love you so, / And you sing to me with a new voice." The speaker is saying that the arrival of her beloved is a new experience because of her love for him. The phrase "you sing to me with a new voice" suggests that the beloved brings a new perspective and a new way of seeing the world.
The fifth stanza is a continuation of the theme of love. The speaker says, "How will Time serve me, who am so impatient / Nor dare be idle while my love is away?" The speaker is impatient for the arrival of her beloved and cannot bear to be idle while waiting. This suggests that her love for the beloved is all-consuming and that she cannot focus on anything else.
The sixth stanza is a beautiful expression of the speaker's longing for her beloved. She says, "Oh, when you come, how will I find a way / To let a single moment unenjoyed slip?" The speaker is saying that she wants to savor every moment of the beloved's arrival and not let any moment go to waste. This suggests that the speaker is aware of the fleeting nature of time and wants to make the most of every moment with her beloved.
The seventh stanza is a beautiful expression of the speaker's love for the beloved. She says, "I cannot reckon up the hours till then, / But yearn and tremble like a living thing." The speaker is saying that she cannot wait for the arrival of her beloved and is filled with a sense of yearning and anticipation. The phrase "tremble like a living thing" suggests that the speaker is so overwhelmed with emotion that she feels like a living, breathing entity.
The eighth and final stanza is a beautiful expression of the speaker's love for the beloved. She says, "Oh, sting of pleasure that it is to know / I shall be soon! I shall be soon with thee." The speaker is saying that the thought of being with her beloved is both pleasurable and painful. The phrase "sting of pleasure" suggests that the speaker is aware of the intensity of her emotions and the power of her love for the beloved.
In conclusion, "Oh, You Are Coming" is a beautiful expression of love, longing, and anticipation. The poem is filled with vivid imagery, powerful language, and a sense of urgency. The repetition of "coming" emphasizes the speaker's eagerness and anticipation, while the personification of time as a hungry entity adds to the sense of urgency. The poem is a beautiful expression of the power of love and the intensity of human emotion. Sarah Teasdale's "Oh, You Are Coming" is a poetic masterpiece that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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