Thursday 19 June 2014
A Dedication To My Wife - T.S. Eliot
To whom I owe the leaping delight
That quickens my senses in our waking time
And the rhythm that governs the repose of our sleeping time,
the breathing in unison.
Of lovers whose bodies smell of each other
Who think the same thoughts without need of speech,
And babble the same speech without need of meaning.
No peevish winter wind shall chill
No sullen tropic sun shall wither
The roses in the rose-garden which is ours and ours only
But this dedication is for others to read:
These are private words addressed to you in public.
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The poem 'A dedication to my wife' by T.S. Elliot conveys a sense of love that has only been around for a few years, or a little while; as a strong sense that Elliot is showing the loving aspects of the relationship. whereas within the poem 'Talking in bed' by Larkin, Larkin is showing the relationship between the two people, but later on down the line. which comparing the both poems show how the relationship's change overtime.
ReplyDeleteT.S Eliot is evidently consumed with the overly powerful feeling of true love. He reflects this feeling by portraying that nothing can overwhelm them as long as they are by each others side- "No peevish winter wind shall chill", they're unbeatable if they have each other. This poem was written as a wedding speech, which may suggest the couple were still in the early stages of love. However it may be suggested that love may not last over a long period of time. 'Talking in bed' written by Philip Larkin portrays the loss of love, the incapability of simply talking in bed as a couple, in contrast to this the couple seem like strangers to each other. Therefore backing the debate that love may just be a semi-permanent feeling.
ReplyDeleteLike Charlotte and Sian , I also feel the poem portrays the happiness of love by being with the person forever and becoming one. Knowing each other so well that you know 'thoughts without need of speech'. This may be love T.S.Eliot is dreaming of to happen or the writer is portraying what lasting love can mean , as the couple have obviously known each other for a long enough time to get to know each other well , by possibly living together as they have got the 'smell of each other' and after all this time still wake up in 'leaping delight'. To be so close ,they need each other.
ReplyDeleteThe way the writer writes the poem like a reflection makes the fact the poem is a wedding speech even more shocking due to the carefully considered reflection to represent his dreams of what his marriage will be. 'Talking in bed' is almost like the ending to this poem of love dying and starting, since at first she was his world and now because she is gone or there's been an argument so talking is uncomfortable in bed as the name suggests , he now feels 'unique distance from isolation', which means he can not connect with the world or people and feel somewhat lost.
Also there isn't a clear pentameter which suggest he is already unclear of what the future will bring
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