Poem Analysis - Supposing I Dreamed This

Introduction: A Fragile Dream of Love and Jealousy

E.E. Cummings' "supposing i dreamed this" is a poignant exploration of love, longing, and the anxieties that can accompany deep affection. The poem unfolds as a tentative and somewhat insecure expression of love, shadowed by jealousy and the fear of being an outsider. The tone is initially gentle and almost whimsical, shifting to a darker and more intense emotional landscape as the speaker contemplates the unknowable depths of the beloved's heart. Ultimately, the poem leaves the reader with a sense of vulnerability and a lingering question about the nature of connection.

Themes of Love, Jealousy, and External Observation

Three primary themes dominate the poem: love, jealousy, and the position of the speaker as an external observer. Love is presented not as a joyful union, but as a state of yearning and vulnerability. The speaker compares himself to a wind circling a house, representing his desire to be close to the beloved, who is symbolized by the house. This distance fosters a sense of jealousy, as the "normal corners" of the beloved's heart remain inaccessible to the speaker. The wind's prowling around the house highlights the speaker's external position, constantly observing but never fully integrated into the beloved's inner world. The poem's effectiveness lies in the contrast between the speaker's passionate emotions and his perceived inability to truly connect.

The House and the Wind: Symbols of Inaccessibility and Unrequited Longing

The central symbols in the poem are the house and the wind. The house represents the beloved, a stable and self-contained entity, while the wind symbolizes the speaker, a restless and searching force. The house, with its "walls" and "shut" nature, suggests a sense of emotional inaccessibility. The speaker, as the wind, can only "peer through windows, unobserved," emphasizing his isolation and inability to penetrate the beloved's inner thoughts and feelings. The image of the "poor wind" roaming "around and around" the house evokes a sense of unrequited longing and futile pursuit.

Darkness and Light: Contrasting Emotions

The poem uses contrasting imagery of light and darkness to represent different emotional states. Light, specifically "light should flower" or "laughing sparkle," symbolizes happiness, openness, and connection within the house (the beloved). In contrast, the speaker's "wonderful jealousy is dark," suggesting a hidden, intense, and perhaps destructive emotion. This juxtaposition highlights the speaker's fear that his jealousy might overshadow the potential for joy and connection. The speaker recognizes that the beloved's happiness might exist independently of him, which fuels the "dark" jealousy.

Ambiguity of the Dream and Emotional Reality

The poem's opening line, "supposing i dreamed this," introduces an element of ambiguity. Is the poem a reflection of real feelings or a projection of the speaker's anxieties? This uncertainty underscores the fragile nature of the emotions being explored. The speaker's use of "only imagine" further blurs the line between reality and imagination. The question remains whether the speaker's jealousy and feelings of isolation are based on actual experiences or are self-created anxieties stemming from his own insecurities. Is the poem’s beauty simply a result of its dream-like vagueness?

Conclusion: A Whisper of Vulnerability

"supposing i dreamed this" is a powerful exploration of the complexities of love, particularly the vulnerability and anxiety that can arise from deep affection. Through vivid imagery and contrasting symbols, Cummings captures the speaker's longing to connect with the beloved while simultaneously grappling with feelings of jealousy and isolation. The poem's significance lies in its honest portrayal of the darker emotions that often accompany love, reminding us that even in the most intimate relationships, a sense of distance and insecurity can persist. The ambiguity introduced by the "dream" framing adds a layer of poignancy, suggesting the fragility of both love and the speaker's emotional state.