Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Jorge Luis Borges' poem "Anticipation of Love" ("Amorosa Anticipación") is a delicate and introspective exploration of the profound intimacy and mystery found in observing a loved one during sleep. The poem touches on themes of purity, the suspension of time, and the unique perspective granted to a lover who witnesses this vulnerable and unguarded state. Through his contemplative tone and evocative imagery, Borges delves into the depths of love, where the boundaries between self and other blur, and where time and personal identity momentarily dissolve.

The poem begins by setting aside the usual sources of attraction and intimacy: "Neither the intimacy of your look, your brow fair as a feast day, nor the favor of your body, still mysterious, reserved, and childlike." Here, Borges acknowledges the traditional aspects of romantic love—physical beauty, the allure of the body, and the unspoken communication between lovers. These elements are often celebrated in love poetry, yet Borges suggests that there is something even more profound and mysterious than these outward expressions of affection.

The speaker then reveals that this greater mystery lies in "the sight of your sleep, enfolded in the vigil of my arms." Sleep, often considered a private and solitary experience, becomes a shared moment of deep connection in this poem. The loved one, in sleep, is described as being "Virgin again, miraculously, by the absolving power of sleep." This line suggests a return to a state of purity and innocence, as if sleep has the power to erase the complexities and burdens of waking life, restoring the loved one to a state of unblemished grace.

Borges continues to describe the loved one as "quiet and luminous like some happy thing recovered by memory." This simile compares the sight of the loved one in sleep to a joyful memory that has been rediscovered, something precious and treasured that has been brought back to light. The imagery of quietness and luminosity evokes a sense of peace and transcendence, as if the sleeping figure radiates a gentle, internal light that is both serene and illuminating.

The speaker reflects on the unique perspective granted by this moment of observation: "you will give me that shore of your life that you yourself do not own." This line encapsulates the idea that sleep reveals a part of the loved one's being that even they are not fully aware of—a shore, or boundary, of their existence that lies beyond their conscious control. In sleep, the loved one becomes unknowable even to themselves, offering the speaker a glimpse of a hidden aspect of their identity that is otherwise inaccessible.

Borges deepens this reflection by describing the speaker's experience as being "Cast up into silence." In this silence, the speaker discerns "that ultimate beach of your being and see you for the first time, perhaps, as God must see you." The notion of seeing the loved one "for the first time" suggests a revelation, a moment of clarity in which the speaker perceives the essence of the loved one without the distractions of daily life or the distortions of time and personal desire. The comparison to God's perspective introduces a divine element, as if the speaker is granted a transcendent vision that goes beyond the physical and temporal dimensions of love.

The final lines of the poem emphasize this idea of transcendence: "the fiction of Time destroyed, free from love, from me." Here, Borges suggests that in this moment of sleep, the loved one is liberated from the constraints of time, from the emotions of love, and even from the presence of the speaker. The phrase "the fiction of Time" implies that time, as we perceive it, is an illusion, and that in the timeless state of sleep, this illusion is momentarily dispelled. The loved one exists in a state of pure being, untouched by the ties of love or personal identity, which allows the speaker to see them in their most true and unguarded form.

"Anticipation of Love" is a meditation on the deep and mysterious aspects of intimacy that go beyond physical attraction and the spoken expressions of love. Borges captures the profound connection that occurs when one observes a loved one in their most vulnerable and unguarded state—during sleep—and reflects on the unique perspective this grants. The poem invites readers to consider the ways in which love allows us to see beyond the surface, to perceive the hidden depths of another's being, and to experience moments of transcendent clarity where time and self momentarily dissolve. Through his elegant language and introspective tone, Borges offers a vision of love that is both deeply personal and universally resonant, emphasizing the quiet, profound moments that define our most intimate relationships.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...