I Could Suffice for Him, I Knew
poem 643
I Could Suffice for Him, I Knew - meaning Summary
Reciprocal Yearning and Hesitation
The speaker imagines a mutual, sufficient union with a beloved or with God but finds their own hesitation fracturing that possibility. Cosmic and natural imagery—sun, stars, sea, moon—stands in for the emotional and spiritual forces at play, suggesting that the world itself answers when bodies move in concert. The poem ends with the speaker questioning whether she can align her own “tides” to correspond, asking if she can respond as faithfully as nature does.
Read Complete AnalysesI could suffice for Him, I knew He could suffice for Me Yet Hesitating Fractions Both Surveyed Infinity Would I be Whole He sudden broached My syllable rebelled ‘Twas face to face with Nature forced ‘Twas face to face with God Withdrew the Sun to Other Wests Withdrew the furthest Star Before Decision stooped to speech And then be audibler The Answer of the Sea unto The Motion of the Moon Herself adjust Her Tides unto Could I do else with Mine?
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