Poem Analysis - Take This Longing

Introduction: A Plea for Intimacy

Leonard Cohen's "Take This Longing" is a raw and vulnerable exploration of desire, inadequacy, and the yearning for authentic connection. The poem unfolds as a desperate plea, voiced by a speaker consumed by longing for a woman who seems both desired and unattainable. The tone is a blend of supplication, self-deprecation, and a touch of possessiveness. Though consistently longing, the mood fluctuates between a desperate hope for intimacy and a cynical resignation to his own perceived failings.

The Torment of Unrequited Desire

The central theme of the poem is undoubtedly the painful experience of unrequited or complicated desire. The speaker is tormented by his longing, repeatedly asking to have it taken from his tongue. This "longing" isn't just physical; it's a deeper yearning for emotional intimacy and acceptance. The lines "Let me see your beauty broken down / Like you would do for one you love" suggest a desire to see her vulnerability, to witness the unguarded self she reserves for those she truly cherishes. He wants to be worthy of that trust and intimacy. The poem conveys the speaker's frustration with his own inability to inspire such openness and vulnerability in her.

Beauty and Vulnerability: A Central Paradox

Beauty, both hers and his own perceived lack thereof, is a recurring theme explored in the poem. The poem's opening lines suggest that many men have desired her, but their desire, as well as her beauty, remain superficial: "everyone who wanted you / They found what they will always want again / Your beauty lost to you yourself / Just as it was lost to them." The speaker seems to imply a difference between mere lust and genuine appreciation of her inner self. Further, the speaker desires to see her "beauty broken down," a paradoxical request that highlights his longing for authenticity and vulnerability. He wants to see past the facade, to witness her humanity, even if it means seeing her at her weakest. This longing is further highlighted by the line, "Your body like a searchlight / My poverty revealed," where her beauty exposes his perceived emotional and spiritual deficiencies.

Symbols of Decay and Yearning

Several potent images contribute to the poem's overall message. The phrase "take this longing from my tongue" is a symbolic plea for release from the burden of unfulfilled desire. It is repeated throughout the poem, further highlighting the speaker's desperation. The image of being "Hungry as an archway / Through which the troops have passed" effectively conveys the speaker's sense of emptiness and depletion. He feels used and ravaged by his own longing and by the woman's perceived indifference. The "winter clothes" and "broken sandal straps" further add to the image of decay and abandonment. Conversely, "laurel leaves" are an ancient symbol of victory and honor, but here they are "shaken from his head", indicating the speaker's sense of defeat and worthlessness. The phrase "Untie for me your hired blue gown" has an interesting duality as well; on the one hand it is a request for intimacy, on the other, the “hired” nature of the gown suggests the relationship, or intimacy, is transactional or that he feels inadequate.

The Shadow of the "Better Man"

The poem is haunted by the presence of a "better man" to whom the woman is supposedly "faithful." This figure represents the speaker's perceived inadequacy and the impossibility of truly connecting with the woman. The lines "You're faithful to the better man / I'm afraid that he left / So let me judge your love affair / In this very room where I have sentenced mine to death" express both jealousy and a twisted sense of entitlement. He wants to judge her love affair, even though his own is already "sentenced to death," a chilling admission of his own self-destructive tendencies and an inability to form healthy relationships. This adds another layer of complexity to the poem, suggesting the speaker’s problems extend beyond his infatuation with this one woman.

Conclusion: A Lasting Echo of Longing

"Take This Longing" is a poignant exploration of desire, vulnerability, and the human condition. Through vivid imagery and a raw, confessional tone, Cohen captures the pain of unrequited longing and the yearning for authentic connection. The poem's power lies in its unflinching honesty and its willingness to confront the darker aspects of human desire, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of empathy for the speaker's torment and the universal struggle to bridge the gap between longing and fulfillment. Ultimately, the poem questions whether true intimacy is even possible, given the inherent complexities of human relationships and the ever-present shadow of our own insecurities.