Love After Love - Derek Walcott
The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
Source: https://allpoetry.com/love-after-love
Annotation
Love After Love Line-by-Line Analysis:
1. The time will come:
Meaning: The poem opens with a prophetic statement, suggesting a future moment of self-discovery and acceptance.
Literary Device: Foreshadowing.
2. when, with elation:
Meaning: This moment will be filled with joy and excitement, a celebration of rediscovering oneself.
Literary Device: Diction ("elation") emphasizes the positive emotion.
3. you will greet yourself arriving:
Meaning: The speaker will encounter their true self, symbolized as arriving at their own door.
Literary Device: Personification ("greet yourself") gives the self agency and presence.
4. at your own door, in your own mirror:
Meaning: This encounter happens within the self, through introspection and reflection.
Literary Device: Metaphor ("mirror") emphasizes self-confrontation.
5. and each will smile at the other's welcome:
Meaning: Both the speaker and their true self will accept and embrace each other.
Literary Device: Personification ("smile") humanizes the self and suggests mutual understanding.
6. and say, sit here. Eat.
Meaning: The true self offers comfort and nourishment, suggesting a need for self-care and acceptance.
Literary Device: Direct address ("sit here") creates a sense of intimacy and invitation.
7. You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Meaning: The speaker will rediscover and rekindle love for their neglected true self.
Literary Device: Paradox ("stranger who was your self") highlights the alienation from one's true nature.
8. Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart:
Meaning: Offer oneself the things that nourish and sustain, both physically and emotionally.
Literary Device: Repetition ("Give") emphasizes the importance of self-giving.
9. to itself, to the stranger who has loved you:
Meaning: The true self has always loved the speaker unconditionally, even when ignored.
Literary Device: Personification ("stranger who has loved you") reinforces the idea of the self as a constant companion.
10. all your life, whom you ignored for another:
Meaning: The speaker acknowledges neglecting their true self in favor of external pursuits.
Literary Device: Juxtaposition ("whom you ignored for another") highlights the past mistake.
11. who knows you by heart.
Meaning: The true self possesses an intimate and complete understanding of the speaker.
Literary Device: Metaphor ("knows you by heart") emphasizes the depth of connection.
12. Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
Meaning: Let go of past attachments and distractions that no longer serve the true self.
Literary Device: Symbolism ("love letters") represent past relationships or ideals.
13. the photographs, the desperate notes,
Meaning: Release all reminders of past struggles and self-doubt.
Literary Device: Symbolism ("photographs," "desperate notes") represent insecurities and limitations.
14. peel your own image from the mirror.
Meaning: Shed the masks and false identities that have masked the true self.
Literary Device: Metaphor ("peel your own image") emphasizes the act of self-discovery.
15. Sit. Feast on your life.
Meaning: Embrace and celebrate the present moment, finding joy in the simple act of being.
Literary Device: Repetition ("Sit") emphasizes the importance of grounding oneself.
Imagery: "Feast on your life" emphasizes the abundance and richness of one's own existence.
Overall Analysis:
"Love After Love" is a powerful poem about self-discovery and acceptance. It encourages the reader to look within themselves, embrace their authentic selves, and find solace and fulfillment in the present moment. The poem uses rich imagery, symbolism, and metaphor to create a vivid and emotional journey of self-love.
Love After Love: A Detailed Analysis
Structure and Rhythm:
The poem's structure mirrors a journey of self-discovery. The 15 lines are divided into three stanzas of five lines each, mirroring the act of introspection and reflection. The rhythm is irregular, shifting between long and short lines to create a sense of urgency and introspection. The use of enjambment and caesura further emphasizes the emotional journey.
Meaning and Imagery:
The poem paints a vivid picture of self-acceptance and rediscovering one's true self.
The Arrival: The first stanza sets the stage for the inner encounter. The "time will come" suggests inevitability and hope, while "elation" highlights the joy of self-discovery. The "door" and "mirror" represent the threshold to introspection and the confrontation with one's true self.
The Embrace: The second stanza focuses on the acceptance and self-love. The invitation to "sit here. Eat" signifies offering oneself comfort and nourishment. Loving the "stranger who was your self" acknowledges past neglect but welcomes self-acceptance. Offering "wine," "bread," and "heart" symbolizes nurturing one's inner needs.
The Letting Go: The final stanza emphasizes the need to release past attachments. The speaker instructs to take down "love letters," "photographs," and "desperate notes," representing external pursuits and distractions that have hindered self-love. Peeling the "own image from the mirror" symbolizes shedding false identities and embracing authenticity. Finally, "Feast on your life" is a powerful call to celebrate and cherish one's true self.
Literary Devices:
Metaphors: "door" and "mirror" for introspection, "stranger who was your self" for past neglect.
Symbolism: "wine" and "bread" for emotional and spiritual nourishment, "love letters," "photographs," and "desperate notes" for past attachments.
Personification: "mirror" and "life" as entities that can offer welcome and nourishment.
Repetition: "Give," emphasizing the act of self-giving.
Imperative mood: "Take down," "peel," "Sit," urging the speaker to take action.
Imagery: "churched sky," "rubbled tales," "white clouds," "bird-rocked sky," "paper leaves," and "green breath" create vivid pictures of destruction and rebirth.
Overall:
"Love After Love" is a powerful and moving poem about self-acceptance and rediscovering one's true self. Walcott's masterful use of language and imagery creates a journey of introspection and self-love, encouraging readers to embrace their authentic selves and find nourishment within.
Note: This analysis focuses on the poem's central themes and literary devices. You can further explore specific aspects of the poem you find interesting, such as the speaker's tone, the role of memory, or the concept of self-love. I encourage you to engage with the poem on your own terms and find your own interpretations.
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