Poem Analysis - Kick It Again

Heartbreak's Dark Humor

Shel Silverstein's "Kick It Again" is a darkly humorous, almost absurd, exploration of unrequited love and emotional resilience. The poem presents a speaker whose affection for another person is repeatedly and violently rejected. Yet, against all odds, the spark of love persists. The tone is initially weary, but quickly transitions into a kind of defiant, morbid fascination with the destructive power of the beloved.

The Tenacity of a Damaged Heart

The primary theme of the poem is the surprising resilience of love in the face of deliberate cruelty. The speaker acknowledges that their love is "weak and tremblin'," but it refuses to die. This tenacity is emphasized by the repetitive commands to "Kick it again," suggesting a cycle of abuse and a perverse expectation that this time, the attack will finally succeed. The fact that the love is "still breathing," "still living" highlights an almost comical level of emotional endurance.

Violence as Vivid Imagery

The poem is filled with violent imagery, particularly the repeated act of kicking. This isn't just a gentle rejection; it's a brutal assault on the speaker's emotions. The verbs used – "choke it," "stepped on it," "broke it" – paint a picture of aggressive destruction. This violence can be interpreted as a metaphor for the devastating impact of emotional manipulation or betrayal. However, the image becomes almost farcical due to the love's stubborn refusal to be extinguished, revealing the absurdity of continued attacks on something already so vulnerable.

Is it Love or Obsession?

A recurring symbol is the "spark of love" itself. It begins weak, hanging "by a thread," but it possesses an almost supernatural ability to survive repeated attacks. This raises a question: is it truly love, or something else entirely? Is it an obsessive attachment, a need for validation, or a stubborn refusal to let go? The fact that "a cheatin' on it doesn't seem to work at all," and attempts to "shame it to death" are ineffective suggests that this "love" is operating outside the bounds of typical romantic feelings. Perhaps it's a twisted form of self-preservation, the speaker clinging to the only feeling they have left, even if that feeling is pain.

A Final Kick: Significance

"Kick It Again" ultimately presents a paradoxical view of love. It’s a love that is both fragile and incredibly strong, repeatedly wounded but never truly destroyed. The poem's dark humor underscores the absurdity of continuing to attack something that is already suffering. The speaker's defiant stance suggests a kind of perverse strength in vulnerability, hinting that even the most abused heart can find a way to endure, raising complex questions about the nature of love, obsession, and the limits of human resilience. The poem leaves the reader wondering if this cycle of abuse and endurance will ever end, and at what cost to the speaker.