Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Claude McKay's poem "Romance" is a sensuous and reflective exploration of the fleeting nature of love and the beauty of passionate moments, even when their permanence is uncertain. Through its lyrical language and evocative imagery, the poem delves into the tension between the intensity of romantic experience and the awareness of its transience.

The poem opens with a vivid and intimate scene: "To clasp you now and feel your head close-pressed, / Scented and warm against my beating breast." These lines immediately draw the reader into a moment of deep physical and emotional connection, where the speaker relishes the closeness and warmth of their lover. The description of the lover's head as "scented and warm" against the speaker's "beating breast" emphasizes the intimacy and immediacy of the experience, capturing a moment of pure, tactile connection.

The poem continues with the speaker's desire to "whisper soft and quivering your name, / And drink the passion burning in your frame." Here, McKay conveys the intensity of the speaker's emotions, as they not only speak the lover's name but also seek to absorb the passion that animates their lover's body. The metaphor of "drinking the passion" suggests a desire to fully immerse oneself in the lover's energy and vitality, highlighting the all-consuming nature of romantic love.

The imagery of physical closeness is further developed in the lines: "To lie at full length, taut, with cheek to cheek, / And tease your mouth with kisses till you speak." The speaker longs for complete alignment with their lover, both physically ("cheek to cheek") and emotionally, as they "tease" their lover into speaking words of love. The repeated physical imagery reinforces the poem's focus on the sensory and tactile aspects of romance, while also hinting at the playfulness and tenderness that characterize the speaker's interaction with their lover.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the words exchanged during these intimate moments: "Love words, mad words, dream words, sweet senseless words, / Melodious like notes of mating birds." The speaker acknowledges that these words are "mad" and "dream" words—expressions of love that may not be entirely rational or grounded in reality. Yet, they are "melodious" and beautiful, akin to the songs of mating birds. This comparison to birds' songs underscores the natural, instinctual quality of the lovers' exchange, as well as its ephemeral nature.

The poem reaches a poignant moment of realization with the lines: "It is so sweet. We know it is not true. / What matters it? The night must shed her dew." The speaker acknowledges that the promises and declarations made in the heat of passion may not be entirely true or lasting. However, this awareness does not diminish the sweetness of the moment. The reference to "the night" shedding "her dew" suggests the inevitability of time passing and the transience of these romantic moments, much like the temporary presence of dew that evaporates with the morning sun.

The repetition of the sentiment "We know it is not true, but it is sweet" in the final lines reinforces the idea that the value of the romantic experience lies not in its permanence, but in the beauty and intensity of the moment itself. The speaker concludes that "The poem with this music is complete," suggesting that the experience of love, with all its sweetness and fleetingness, is like a poem—a work of art that, despite its impermanence, is complete and meaningful in its own right.

"Romance" by Claude McKay is a lyrical meditation on the nature of romantic love, capturing both its passion and its impermanence. Through rich sensory imagery and reflective language, McKay explores the tension between the ephemeral nature of love and the enduring beauty of the moments it creates. The poem suggests that while love may not always be true in the long term, its sweetness and the joy it brings are nonetheless worthy of celebration.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...