Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Sonnet: 10" by Hayden Carruth is a powerful and evocative exploration of love, perception, and the recognition of beauty within the beloved. The poem begins with a moment of separation, as the speaker observes the figure of their beloved rising from an embrace. This departure is not depicted as a loss, but rather as a moment of revelation, as the "small light" that spreads around the beloved creates an almost divine or celestial aura, an "aureole," that highlights their physical presence.

The speaker describes the beloved's physicality in terms that are both precise and expansive, invoking the "long parabola / of neck and shoulder, flank and thigh" to capture the elegance and fluidity of their movement. This description is rich with the language of transformation and unfolding, suggesting that the act of observing the beloved is also an act of witnessing constant change and becoming. The reference to "the Picasso-like eclat / of scissoring slender legs" not only highlights the aesthetic appreciation the speaker has for the beloved's form but also aligns this observation with the broader realm of artistic interpretation and representation.

Carruth then introduces a philosophical reflection on the nature of love and its capacity to imbue the observed with value. He acknowledges a previous belief that love is what bestows such values on the beloved, but he comes to recognize a deeper truth, encapsulated in the Latin phrase "ubi amor ibi ocullus est," which translates to "where there is love, there is an eye." This maxim suggests that love is not merely about bestowing value or attributes upon the beloved but about the ability to see, to truly recognize and appreciate, the inherent beauty and worth that exists within them.

The poem's conclusion reveals a shift in the speaker's understanding of love, moving from the desire to give and the identity of the poet as a giver, to a more mature recognition that the essence of love lies in the ability to see and acknowledge the beloved's true self. This realization marks a transition from an active, even creative, role in love ("in wanting was / the poet") to a more receptive and appreciative stance ("the best / of love is not to bestow, but to recognize").

"Sonnet: 10" thus offers a nuanced meditation on love, perception, and artistic expression. Through the lens of a momentary separation and observation, Carruth delves into the complexities of love's power to transform both the observer and the observed. The poem's elegance lies in its ability to capture the profound and transcendent moments of connection and recognition that define our deepest experiences of love.

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