Poem Analysis - Speaking Of Love

A Fragmented Exploration of Love

E.E. Cummings' "speaking of love" is a fragmented and intimate exploration of love's elusive nature. The poem shies away from grand pronouncements, instead offering a series of tentative observations and sensory experiences. The tone is introspective and questioning, shifting between wonder and a sense of melancholy acceptance of love's transient quality. Cummings uses unconventional syntax and punctuation to mirror the uncertain and fragmented experience of love itself.

Love's Enigmatic Definition

One of the primary themes is the definition of love itself. The poem opens with an explicit acknowledgement of love's ambiguity ("of/which Who knows the/meaning"). Cummings isn't trying to provide a definitive answer, but rather to explore the myriad ways love manifests itself. The grassblade metaphor ("if your heart's mind)i/guess a grassblade/Thinks beyond or/around") suggests that love, like a plant, possesses an innate intelligence that transcends rational understanding. It's a feeling, an intuition, a force that operates outside the confines of logic and language. This theme is strengthened by the lack of traditional punctuation, which forces the reader to actively participate in constructing meaning, much like one must actively engage in love.

The Ephemeral Nature of Connection

Another important theme is the transience of connection, particularly physical intimacy. The "caress that laugh" are presented as fleeting moments that only signify "life's only half." This implies that love is incomplete, a temporary convergence that ultimately fades. The lines "mind in mind flesh/In flesh succeeding disappear" emphasize the ephemeral nature of even the deepest connection. The poem acknowledges that love, like all things, is subject to decay and dissolution. It moves from a possible unification of "mind in mind flesh/In flesh" to the ultimate "disappear", highlighting its fleeting, finite, and ultimately vulnerable nature.

Imagery of Nature and Sensory Experience

Cummings uses natural imagery to express the intangible qualities of love. The grassblade, "picking it," and the "deep weather" all evoke a sense of vulnerability and natural process. The image of the grassblade suggests that love, like a fragile plant, can be easily damaged or uprooted. "Deep weather" might symbolize the emotional storms and hardships that relationships must endure. More broadly, the poem is deeply sensory; the reader can almost feel the "caress", hear the "laugh", and experience the disappearance of the senses. This appeals to the senses emphasizes the deeply personal and internal understanding of love the poem explores.

Final Thoughts: Embracing the Fleeting Moment

In conclusion, "speaking of love" is a poem that embraces the ambiguity and impermanence inherent in human connection. Rather than offering a simplistic definition, Cummings explores love through fragmented language, sensory imagery, and a willingness to confront its transient nature. The poem ultimately suggests that while love may be fleeting and uncertain, it is a vital force that should be experienced fully, even in the face of its inevitable disappearance. The final call to action, "let's feel/all" is a direct invitation for the reader to accept and revel in the complete, albeit impermanent, experience of love.