Copy of ENG1121 T Poem Analysis- Sandor PDF

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John Donne’s “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” poem and Adrienne Rich’s response “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning” follow both writers’ experiences with love; the good, the bad and, the ugly. We are faced with two poems, which although the title is similar, in reality the content may have nothing to do with one another. John Donne’s poem outlines the breadth and depth of a loving relationship, which will continue despite geographical and time separation. At first glance, Adrienne Rich’s poem can be seen as her interpretation of a broken love without knowing anything about the poet. Although both poems appear to be about the different states of love, this changes if you have more information on the poet and their views on life. While Donne’s poem is about love and a literal separation, there are no other hidden meanings. On the other hand Rich, a well known feminist uses the allusion of love to criticize society that impedes feminist expression. In the first stanza of Donne’s poem, he compares his departure with the deaths of virtuous men; saying that they “pass mildly away” (Donne ln. 1). He uses this euphemism as a way to explain to his love that their goodbyes should be handled the same way a virtuous man passes; by accepting the circumstances of the situation and allowing “their souls to go” (Donne ln. 2). He uses the metaphor of a dying old man to suggest that they part ways with the same dignity and grace as an old, virtuous man would if he were dying. Although their separation is inevitable like death, how you choose to react to the situation changes the outcome. The final lines of the first stanza outlines the choice she can make saying “whilst some of their sad friends do say / the breath goes now, and some say, No” (Donne ln 3-4). This passage of the text refers her ability to accept that her lover must leave and cherish the time with him or to be in denial of it and waste the opportunity to enjoy her last moments with him until he returns. The second stanza of the passage reassures how the relationship Donne talks about with his wife is so strong that there is no need for “tear-floods” (Donne ln. 6), or to make a fuss over the fact that he is leaving because, he will come home and the love they share will be just as strong as when he left. In lines 7 and 8 of the opening, Donne says that dramatic goodbyes would subject their love to “profanation” (Donne ln. 7) and that they do not have to prove their love to “laity” (Donne ln. 8) or anyone else because they know that their love is like no other and that should be all that matters. While Rich’s response to Donne’s work can be considered a love poem in a vast sense of the word, the relationship she describes is deeper than her love and separation from another person but, rather herself. Lines 1, 4 and, 5 suggest this is a poem about a lost love, much like the kind of love that Donne discusses in his poem. However, it was not until greater research into the background of the author before it was evident that the love talked about in the opening of Rich’s poem was not about her love and separation from someone else but, love for herself and separation from societal pressures of a female poet during the 1970’s. The first line in the first stanza of the poem “My swirling wants / your frozen lips” (Rich ln. 1), suggests that the subject of the poem is eager to pursue something but, there is something or someone keeping her from it. Rich writes her poems in sentence fragments which I take is a choice in order for her readers to understand exactly what she wanted to say, as if her message is more important than what is grammatically correct. In line 2 she states how the “grammar turned and attacked me”, which leads me to believe that it is something holding her back, another obstacle. Knowing what

I do of her past and the way Rich composes her poems, her fragmented combinations were not accepted by the male dominated poet society. Lines 3 and 4 explain the “duress” her and every other female poet caused against men in the poetic society due to their work relating to feminine obstacles rather than the mundane “emptiness” (Rich ln. 4) that seems to appear in men’s poetry. The “drug” she refers to in line 5 could be the fact that no one can stop her from writing her poetry however, that does not mean that she has to be published. The term “drug” has negative connotations but, can also be referred to as medication. That being said, medication is supposed to help a situation and change the outcome in a positive way. Her second stanza in the opening talks about how “they” give her a drug “to slow the healing wounds” (Rich ln. 5). Metaphorically, I think this speaks on a deeper level for not only herself, but other women as well. ‘They’ being men who disapprove of the topics that Rich as well as many other female poets choose to write about. The drug that Rich refers to could be compared to the idea that there are hopes that things will change for female poets however, it puts females ten steps back rather than one forward. After closely analyzing both works, it seems that they are about more than just love; even in its broadest sense. Donne’s experience with love is hopeful and consumes him, knowing that his love can face anything. While Rich’s experience was different, I believe that this work made her closer to loving herself. Although her separation was not as literal as Donne’s, Rich took it upon herself to separate the standards from what she believed to be art, without the approval of a man. Donne’s passage can only be explained as the true love a man has for a woman and, how each love is unique and messy but, it can endure anything as long as you are willing to accept it for what it is, Rich being no different....