e. e. cummings
p. 699
This is a really complicated poem, not gonna lie.
This poem talks a lot about opening and closing, with Cummings (or should I write it as cummings, given his capitalization/punctuation preferences?) using some form of the words in all but one stanza. The 2nd stanza is particularly potent when it comes to talking of how just a mere glance from his lover can cause him to open up, in spite of the fact that he (cummings) has before closed himself off. This seems to imply that, for cummings, at least, love involves opening up to people, whether you want to or not. If you want a relationship to last, you can't be an enigma.
In the 1st, 2nd, and final stanzas, cummings talks of his lover's eyes - how they "have their silence", how their "slightest look easily will unclose [him]", and how "the voice of [their] eyes is deeper than all the roses." This focus on vision implies that there's unspoken communication going on here, or at least the impact this nonverbal gesture has on cummings. It can open him up, and obviously has a great effect on him. Wow. This can tie in wonderfully to my other poem. Sweet.
Basically, communication is key. (Also, fun fact, two songs on my iPod take their titles from the last line of this poem.)
"Short Story on a Painting of Gustav Klimt"
Lawrence Ferlinghetti
p. 689-690
THIS POEM MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE. Non-consensual touching, hoo boy.
The vibe here is way less loving than cumming's poem. In fact, it's the opposite. Here, a man has "caught" a woman on the bed, and is forcibly holding her still, her gown falling off of her. "He has an urgent hunger", and tries to force a kiss on her, but she turns her head away, her hand "like the head of a dead swan" against his neck. Her fingers and feet are tensed, and she's trying to cover her breasts with one hand, using the other to try and push away his hand, which is forcing their lips together. "Her eyes are closed like folded petals", and she won't let him in.
These poems couldn't be more different, though they do share similar themes of opening up like flowers. I'm gonna be brief in my analysis since I'm sleepy and, honestly, wanna get this over with, but... this woman is obviously not interested in all at being with this man. Her hands are "claw[s]", which gives the impression that she's an animal fighting to protect herself. Here, love isn't present. It's all about force and the man trying to get what he wants, regardless of the woman's desires. This is in contrast to cummings talking about how his lover can get him to open up with just a glance, whereas this man is forcing this woman to kiss him. (There's also a different sort of opening up going on between this couple, but... still.)
Communication is key, but this man is obviously not listening to what this woman is non-verbally telling him, totally unlike cummings and his lover.
Do I even need to say which view comes closer to my own? When it comes to love, you shouldn't be afraid to open up to your partner, as well as listen to whatever your partner might have to say. You need to communicate freely and be respectful about it.
Just. Yeah...
Here's a picture of Starscream demonstrating how I feel right now.
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