Poem Analysis - My Love Has Changed

Introduction: A Shift in Love and Longing

Sergei Yesenin's poem my love has changed explores the complexity of shifting emotions and unmet expectations in love. The tone is melancholic yet reflective, with a sense of resignation as the speaker addresses a lover who is grappling with disappointment. The mood shifts subtly from regret to a sobering realization, ending with an almost fatalistic acceptance of unfulfilled desires. The poem's imagery, rooted in nature and domesticity, reinforces its emotional weight.

Themes: Love, Disillusionment, and Creative Frustration

The poem touches on three central themes: the transience of love, the pain of disillusionment, and the limitations of artistic expression. The speaker acknowledges the lover's hurt over their changed feelings, using celestial imagery like the "crescent's sweeper" and "the star that fell upon your brows" to evoke fleeting beauty and lost ideals. The repeated imagery of a "house" and "shelter" reflects the lover's emotional emptiness. Finally, the metaphor of the mill that "cannot tear off the ground" underscores the futility of striving for unreachable heights—whether in love or art.

Symbolism and Imagery: The Unreachable and the Broken

Yesenin employs vivid symbols to deepen the poem's message. The crescent and fallen star suggest unfulfilled promises, while the absent "house in your heart" symbolizes emotional barrenness. The key gilded by "singing lyric" hints at misplaced devotion—perhaps to an unworthy recipient. The striking image of the mill, flapping but grounded, mirrors the lover's inability to transcend their limitations. These symbols collectively paint a portrait of love and creativity thwarted by reality.

Conclusion: The Weight of Unmet Desires

Ultimately, my love has changed is a meditation on acceptance—of faded love, unrealized dreams, and the confines of human effort. The unresolved questions ("whomever did you gild the key for?") leave room for introspection, inviting readers to reflect on their own losses. Yesenin's blend of personal sorrow and universal longing makes the poem resonate beyond its immediate context, offering a poignant glimpse into the struggles of love and art.