Poem Analysis - Warning

Desanka Maksimovic's "Warning" is a plea for protection, a vulnerable confession of the transformative and potentially destabilizing power of music. The poem weaves between perceived reality and the heightened emotional state induced by music, creating a sense of unease and the potential for both ecstatic connection and painful vulnerability. The tone is initially intimate and confessional, becoming increasingly melancholic and tinged with fear as the poem progresses. The overall mood is one of both longing and apprehension.

The Allure and Danger of Music

The central theme of "Warning" is the potent, almost intoxicating, influence of music on the speaker. Music acts as a catalyst, blurring the lines between perception and imagination. This is evident in the repeated phrase, "It could seem to me," which prefaces a series of heightened emotional experiences. The speaker fears that music will lead her to misinterpret reality and make rash decisions, declaring affection for a stranger ("to love someone / for only one day") or revealing deeply personal secrets ("my dearest, magically growing secret / how much I love you"). The refrain "Never leave me alone / when music plays" functions as a desperate plea to be grounded in reality when faced with music's transformative power.

Love's fleeting nature

The theme of love, particularly its fleeting and potentially deceptive nature, is subtly explored through the poem. The speaker's fear that she might fall for someone based purely on a momentary connection fostered by music reveals a sense of vulnerability. The lines "It could seem to me / that some eyes gray / are so deep and soft, / the eyes that are actually plain" suggest a distortion of reality, where the beauty and depth are projected rather than inherent. This hints at the danger of mistaking fleeting infatuation for genuine affection. The lines “It could seem to me / so easy, so gay / to love someone / for only one day.” emphasizes the temporary and perhaps superficial nature of connections formed under music's influence, implying both the allure and the potential heartbreak of such ephemeral relationships.

Symbolism of Tears and Black Butterflies

The poem employs vivid imagery and symbolism to convey the speaker's inner turmoil. Tears flowing "through a new well" in a forest suggest a renewal of sorrow, a revisiting of past pain. The "black butterfly" making "patterns on heavy water" is a particularly striking image. The black butterfly, often associated with transformation and death, could symbolize repressed emotions or unspoken truths. The "heavy water" implies a burden of sorrow or unresolved feelings. The fact that these patterns are "those that no one feels free to tell" further emphasizes the speaker's sense of isolation and the difficulty of articulating her deepest emotions. The "bitter flower" touching her heart underscores the persistent ache of an "incurable wound", pointing to lasting pain.

A Final Note on Vulnerability

"Warning" is a poignant exploration of vulnerability and the power of art to unlock hidden emotions. Music, in this poem, is not simply a source of pleasure but a force that can destabilize and expose. The poem's significance lies in its honest portrayal of the human desire for connection, coupled with a simultaneous fear of the potential pain that such connection might bring. It raises questions about the nature of perception, the boundaries between reality and imagination, and the courage it takes to embrace both the beauty and the darkness within ourselves.