In Wislawa Szymborska’s version of “True Love”, love is portrayed as being unnecessary and possibly unattainable. Her tone throughout the poem seems to be jealous, but the last three lines change direction. With these lines, it seems that she was writing the poem as tongue-in-cheek. At the end she declares that those who “never find true love” should hold onto their “faith” that “there’s no such thing” because this “will make it easier for them to live and die”. These last lines show that Szymborska believes in true love and is trying to console those who have never experienced it.
Sharon Olds “True Love” depicts a couple that has been together for awhile. After years of “loving” each other, they know each other’s bodies and the needs of each other without even having to say anything. The feeling this poem gives is that love after years, may become comfortable, but can still persist. True love can be one of friendship and compassion. From the beginning of this poem to the end – love is represented as attainable and real.
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I have to disagree with your interpretation of the last part of Szymborska's "True Love". Rather than attesting to believing in love, I think she is rather sending a somewhat disgruntled message to those believers; making her a non-believer. She is saying that thinking love does not exist makes life easier to live because she possibly has not found love and is plagued by that. Her overall tone throughout the poem represents a cynical viewpoint and therefore makes you think she most likely has had bad luck in the love area. So she sends the message for those lovers to leave her and those alike to their life of disbelief so that they can better make it through the day. Otherwise I enjoyed your take on Olds's "True Love".
ReplyDeletePeer Response: Week 1 Question#7- "True Love"
ReplyDeleteI think Szymborska's "True Love" poem explains and expresses what she likes for those who have not experienced true love. In addition, I noticed that Szymborska uses lines that each has various types of words to help prove her opinion and beliefs about "true love".
The way she composes her poem is different from Sharon by writing the first lines to create a theme for her whole poem and started it with questions about true love. On the other hand, Sharon made her stanzas more of descriptive or story telling for what is "true love" all about. Both poems purpose is to make the reader develop a meaningful insights about true love and what it really is all about.
However, Szybroska's down-hearted feeling on love is seen by her choice of words used to ask questions in the poem. However, Sharon's use of words are mellow and gives a warm feeling to the reader. Symborska's "True Love" poem shows confusion for any readers that were involved in a relationship. She depicts an open mindedness towards her belief about true love but I would rather stick to Sharon's way of describing what true love is because of her explicit way of looking at what "True Love" is all about.
I have to agree with jpino. Szymborska comes off very disgruntled in her poem. Almost as if she has never been in love or has been hurt by love. Which ever is the case she speaks passionately about her thoughts on how unimportant True Love between two is. She give the impression that she jealous of those around her whom are in love and insists that it is not fait that bring two people from millions together. More like a random act that brings two people together. In her eyes it seems that she believes all people in love act the same way and this really does seem to annoy her.
ReplyDeleteAmanda I agree with your thoughts on Sharon Olds poem “True Love”.
This poem reminds me of an elderly couple who have been together for fifty plus years, and they know everything about their spouse. The poem starts off with the couple waking up from making love but goes into how connected the two are on more of a spiritual level. As if they are not a couple more like they are two pieces of a puzzle when put together they are “one” complete person. It seems like one cannot exist without the other and they have been "One" for so long that they do not need to be in the same room or the same vicinity for each of them to feel like they are embracing one another. This for me is the ultimate definition of love. It goes be on a physical/sexual love, it is portrayed as a deep emotional connection couple has and most couples strive for.