Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Both Together and Each Apart" by Yehuda Amichai is a poignant reflection on the complexities of relationships and the interplay between individuality and togetherness. Amichai, known for his evocative and deeply personal poetry, often explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time, and this poem is a fine example of his work.

The poem begins with a melancholic tone: "My girl, another summer's gone dark, / My father didn't come to the Luna Park." The imagery of a darkened summer and the absence of the father at a place of amusement (Luna Park) sets a mood of disappointment and unfulfilled expectations. This introduction establishes a backdrop of longing and loss, a recurring theme in Amichai's poetry.

The line "The swings are swinging. And we will start / Both together and each apart" introduces the central theme of the poem: the duality of being in a relationship while maintaining individual identities. The swings swinging together yet separately symbolize the motion of two people in a relationship – moving in sync but still distinct.

The next stanza, "The horizon loses the ship's prow--It's hard to hold onto anything now," conveys a sense of fleeting moments and the transitory nature of life and relationships. The imagery of the disappearing ship suggests the inevitable drifting away of things once thought permanent.

In "Behind the mountain, the warriors are set / For battle. We can use all the pity we can get," Amichai might be alluding to external conflicts or internal struggles within the relationship. The mention of "warriors" and "battle" implies challenges and fights, either with the outside world or within the realm of their relationship.

The stanza "The moon is sawing the clouds above— / Come, let's start a duel of love" introduces a contrasting idea of love as a duel, a struggle between two forces. Yet, it's a struggle that they are willing to engage in together, highlighting the complexities and sometimes contradictory nature of love.

Amichai's mention of "evil ghosts" and the line "We may still change all evil ghosts" suggests the hope that love can transform or overcome past hurts or negative experiences. It's a call to face these challenges together, yet acknowledging the separate battles each person faces.

The closing lines, "My love has made me, it is plain, / Like a salt sea in the first rain. / Slowly I am brought to you, I fall. / Take me. We have no angel at all. / Both together. And each apart," are particularly powerful. The metaphor of a salt sea in the rain illustrates how love can be overwhelming and consuming, yet also cleansing and renewing. The plea "Take me" is a surrender to this love, acknowledging its power and the vulnerability it brings. The poem ends with the repeated phrase, capturing the essence of the poem: the paradox of being in a relationship where two individuals are both united and separate at the same time.

Overall, "Both Together and Each Apart" is a beautifully crafted poem that captures the essence of human relationships. It speaks to the heart of what it means to be in love: the struggle of balancing togetherness with individuality, the challenges faced together and alone, and the transformative power of love.

POEM TEXT:

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Yehuda_Amichai/N3E8owUIEbYC?q=%22I+WANT+TO+DIE+IN+MY+OWN+BED,%22+by+YEHUDA+AMICHAI&gbpv=1#f=false

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