Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Dorianne Laux’s “This Close” is an intense exploration of physical intimacy, desire, and the fine line between closeness and destruction. Through visceral imagery and candid language, the poem captures the physicality of love and lust while suggesting the emotional vulnerability and danger inherent in such closeness.

The poem begins in a confined, private space, "the room where we lie," where the light, described as staining the shades yellow, sets an intimate and sensuous tone. The use of "stains" suggests both permanence and an encroaching presence, implying that the act of love leaves an indelible mark, much like the light permeating the room. This setting becomes a crucible for the lovers, where their bodies become the central focus, described with an immediacy that underscores the rawness of their connection.

Laux’s portrayal of the body is strikingly tactile and alive. The lovers “sweat and pull at each other,” their fingers climbing the “slippery ladders of rib.” The metaphor of the ribs as ladders suggests both physical movement and a metaphorical ascent toward fulfillment or transcendence. This imagery, paired with the description of flesh coming “alive” wherever they touch, highlights the primal and almost animalistic nature of their encounter. The heat and need that "gnaw" evoke an unrelenting hunger, emphasizing the intensity of their desire.

The speaker’s admission of wanting and taking “no delicacy now” transforms the act of love into something raw and consuming. The metaphor of the "dark human bread" that she eats “handful by greedy handful” reinforces this idea of physical intimacy as sustenance, something essential yet ravenous. The language conveys a sense of abandon, where boundaries dissolve, and the act becomes a primal act of survival or fulfillment.

Laux’s use of similes and metaphors enriches the poem?s emotional and sensory depth. The description of eyes, fingers, and mouths as “sweet leeches of desire” captures both the pleasure and the parasitic intensity of love and lust. The metaphor of a “crazy woman, her brain full of bees,” evokes an image of chaotic, buzzing thoughts—an apt depiction of the speaker’s overwhelmed state during this passionate encounter. The fists beating the pillow senseless illustrate the physical release of emotions that words cannot contain.

The poem’s climax comes with the speaker’s physical surrender, described as her body “finally gives in to it.” The ache, both physical and emotional, leaves her “grateful,” willing to give “anything, anything.” This gratitude underscores the paradoxical nature of intimacy: the merging of bodies brings a sense of fulfillment, yet it also leaves the speaker vulnerable and exposed. The repetition of "anything" emphasizes the depth of her submission and the sense of being consumed by the experience.

The final lines shift the tone, introducing a layer of emotional complexity and ambivalence. The speaker acknowledges that loving the other person would be fatal: “If I loved you, being this close would kill me.” This startling confession reframes the poem, suggesting that the intensity of their physical connection is both exhilarating and dangerous. The proximity, while fulfilling on a physical level, threatens to obliterate the speaker’s sense of self if compounded by emotional attachment. It is a haunting reminder of the fragility of boundaries in intimacy and the potential for love to overwhelm and destroy.

“This Close” is a powerful meditation on the duality of intimacy—its ability to both sustain and consume. Laux’s evocative language and stark honesty illuminate the physical and emotional risks of closeness, making the poem resonate with anyone who has grappled with the intensity of love and desire. Through its exploration of human connection, the poem reveals the tension between fulfillment and vulnerability, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of awe and unease.

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