Poem Analysis - Breath Of My Breath

Introduction: A Descent into Passion and Despair

E.E. Cummings' "Breath Of My Breath" plunges the reader into a turbulent landscape of intense desire, pain, and ultimate disillusionment. The poem initially evokes a sense of raw, almost violent passion, marked by vivid imagery and an urgent plea for connection. This urgency, however, gradually unravels, revealing a darker undercurrent of despair and a critique of idealized love. The tone shifts from desperate entreaty to bleak resignation, culminating in a stark and unsettling image of a failed romance.

The Dance of Ecstasy and Agony: A Theme of Twisted Desire

A central theme of the poem is the complex and often destructive nature of desire. The opening lines, "nearer:breath of my breath:take not they tingling limbs from me," express an intense longing for physical and emotional intimacy. The speaker begs for unity, wanting their pain to be intertwined with the loved one's experience. However, this desire quickly takes on a darker tone. The poem uses violent imagery – "tigers of smooth sweetness steal," "leopards of white ream," "killing flame" – to suggest that this intense passion is not purely benign but also possesses a predatory and destructive quality. This duality suggests that the pursuit of absolute union can be both ecstatic and agonizing, ultimately leading to ruin.

The Grotesque Bloom of Madness: A Symbolism of Decayed Beauty

Recurring imagery in the poem focuses on a distorted, decaying beauty. The image of a "flower of madness" being carved "on gritted lips" and the "killing flame that dizzily grips" are particularly striking. These images present a disturbing contrast between the traditional associations of flowers with beauty and love and the reality of pain and madness. The "sprawled eyes squirming with light insane" further reinforces this theme, depicting a descent into a deranged state caused by overwhelming passion or a traumatic experience. These symbols suggest that the relentless pursuit of intense emotional experiences can lead to a grotesque distortion of beauty and sanity.

From Heavenly Stars to Stinking Corpses: Disillusionment and Decay

The latter part of the poem introduces a stark shift in tone and setting. The "querying greys between mouthed houses curl" and the declaration that "Dead stars stink" paint a picture of a decaying world, a world devoid of beauty and hope. This imagery serves to underscore the poem's disillusionment with idealized love. The final image, "the poetic carcass of a girl," is a brutal and shocking conclusion. It reduces the entire romantic experience to a lifeless, discarded remnant, suggesting that the intense passion and longing expressed in the earlier stanzas have led to nothing but ruin and decay. Is the 'poetic carcass' a literal death, or is it a metaphorical death of innocence and hope brought about by the painful experience of love? The ambiguity leaves the reader contemplating the devastating consequences of unchecked desire.

Concluding Thoughts: Passion's Fragile Flame

In conclusion, "Breath Of My Breath" is a powerful exploration of the complexities of human desire, painting a picture of intense longing and subsequent disillusionment. Through vivid and often violent imagery, Cummings captures the intoxicating and destructive nature of passion. The poem's shift from desperate entreaty to bleak resignation highlights the fragile nature of idealized love and the potential for intense experiences to lead to despair and ruin. The poem serves as a stark reminder that the pursuit of extreme emotional states can have devastating consequences, leaving behind only the "poetic carcass" of a once-vibrant dream.