“The next day, I am almost afraid. Love? It was more like dragonflies in the sun, 100 degrees at noon, the ends of their abdomens stuck together.I close my eyes when I remember. I hardly knew myself, like something twisting and twisting out of a chrysalis, enormous, without language, all head, all shut eyes, and the humming like madness, the way they writhe away, and do not leave, back, back, away, back. Did I know you? No kiss, no tenderness—more like killing, death-grip holding to life, genitals like violent hands clasped tight barely moving, more like being closed in a great jaw and eaten, and the screaming.I groan to remember it, and when we started to die, then I refuse to remember, the way a drunkard forgets. After, you held my hands extremely hard as my body moved in shudders like the ferry when its axle is loosed past engagement, you kept me sealed exactly against you, our hairlines wet as the arc of a gateway after a cloudburst, you secured me in your arms till I slept - clasped, fragrant, buoyant, that was the morning after love.”
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Quote Analysis
In this passage from Sharon Olds' poem, the speaker reflects on a past love that was intense, overwhelming, and ultimately destructive. The metaphor of dragonflies stuck together in the heat symbolizes the primal and almost violent nature of the relationship. The imagery of twisting out of a chrysalis and being consumed like prey highlights the lack of tenderness and the sense of suffocation in the love affair. Despite the physical intensity of their connection, the speaker also acknowledges a sense of fear and loss in the aftermath of their love. This complex and evocative description captures the tumultuous emotions and memories associated with a passionate yet ultimately harmful relationship.
Modern Relevance:
In this poignant passage from Sharon Olds' poem, the intense and raw emotions of a tumultuous love affair are vividly depicted. The feeling of being consumed by passion, the sensation of being on the brink of destruction, and the aftermath of such a tumultuous relationship are all captured in vivid imagery. The intensity of the experience described resonates with the complexities of modern relationships, where love and desire can sometimes blur the lines between ecstasy and agony. The struggle to reconcile conflicting emotions and the aftermath of a tumultuous love affair are timeless themes that continue to hold relevance in modern society.
Example of Usage:
In this powerful prose by Sharon Olds, the intense and tumultuous nature of love is depicted through vivid imagery and raw emotions. The speaker reflects on a passionate yet destructive love affair, likening it to dragonflies in the sun and a violent, consuming force. The language used is evocative and visceral, painting a picture of love's complexities and contradictions.
Reflective Questions:
Reflecting on this powerful excerpt from Sharon Olds' poem, consider the following questions to delve deeper into its themes and emotions:
How does the imagery of dragonflies and the intense physical sensations described in the passage contribute to the overall portrayal of love?
What do you think the speaker means by the comparison of love to "being closed in a great jaw and eaten" and the reference to "killing, death-grip holding to life"?
In what ways does the depiction of the aftermath of love in the last portion of the passage contrast with the turbulent and intense experience described earlier? How does this reflect the complexity of relationships?
How does the use of sensory details, such as the wet hairlines and the feeling of being "clasped, fragrant, buoyant" in the morning after love, impact the reader's understanding of the emotions involved?
How does Olds' portrayal of love challenge traditional romanticized notions of love and intimacy?
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“I love you. I love the way you rub the scar on the back of your hand when you're nervous. I love the way you make a sword into a living part of your body. I love the way you burn your eyes into me, as if you're seeing me fresh every time. I love the black streak in you that wants to kill the world, and the soft streak that is sorry afterward. I love the way you laugh, as if you're surprised that you can laugh at all. I love the way you kiss my breath away. I love the way you breathe and speak and smile. I love the way you take the air out of my lungs when you hold me. I love the way you make a dance out of death. I love the confusion I see in your eyes when you realize you are happy. I love every muscle and bone in your body, every twist and bend in your soul.”
“After everything happened with you and me, I tried to heal. I knew that I needed to forget you and move on. I hurt so much; everyday felt like a death sentence. I mourned you like you were dead and then, I met Leah. We were set up on a blind date and I remember feeling hope that day. It was the first day in a year that I felt hope. We took our time getting to know each other, I bought her a ring.” He shot me a look to see if I remembered the iceberg.“And then, all of a sudden I missed you again. I mean, I never stopped missing you, but this time it hit me hard. I couldn’t go to sleep for a single night without seeing you in my dreams. I compared everything Leah did to everything I remembered about you. It was like the old wound opened itself up again and I was bleeding out my feelings for you.” I close my eyes at his words. Words that I want to hear badly but that are making my heart ache so terribly I can barely breathe.”
“I watched you wake up and try to wake me up too. I could still feel you touch my face and my cheek. I liked the way you brushed my hair back with your hand. I liked the way held onto my hands with your hands. They must have felt a little cold and a little wet but they started to feel warm again when you held onto them. I want you to know that I stayed there with you and held onto you too.”
“I wound my arms around his neck and kissed him back, trying to capture this moment, to clasp it, so I could always remember what it felt like to hold him this way.”