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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
Alice Fulton's "Yours & Mine" explores the differing perspectives within a relationship, focusing on the contrasts between distance and intimacy, abstraction and detail. Through the use of rich imagery and reflective tone, the poem delves into the complexities of love and the ways in which individuals experience and express their emotions differently. The poem begins with a striking metaphor: "Through your lens the sequoia swallowed me like a dryad." This image captures the idea of being consumed by nature, or perhaps by the other person's perspective, which is mediated through the lens of a camera. The camera's flash, which "forgot," symbolizes a moment captured and then lost, highlighting the ephemeral nature of memories and the disconnect between experiencing a moment and preserving it. The speaker contrasts this with their own struggle with memory, describing it as "awkward as a touch that goes unloved." This simile evokes the discomfort of unreciprocated affection and the difficulty of holding onto memories that may not be cherished by the other person. The speaker's efforts to "practice my absent-mindedness" suggest a desire to detach from these painful memories, contrasting with the permanence implied by the camera's capture. Fulton then moves to describe the emotional distance that has grown between the two individuals: "Lately your eyes have shut down to a shade more durable than skin's." This metaphor conveys a sense of emotional withdrawal and the creation of a protective barrier, more resilient than the vulnerability of skin. The speaker acknowledges the other person's preference for distance, noting that "you love distance, how it smooths," implying that distance simplifies and abstracts the complexities of their relationship. The speaker contrasts this with their own preference for closeness and detail: "I go for the close exposures: poorly-mounted countenances along Broadv the pigweed cracking each hardscrabble backlot." These lines highlight the speaker's appreciation for the imperfections and rawness of life, the "poorly-mounted countenances" and "pigweed cracking each hardscrabble backlot" symbolizing the beauty found in the gritty and overlooked details. The poem concludes with a reflection on the fundamental difference in their perspectives: "It's a matter of perspective: yours is to love me from a block away & mine is to praise the graininess that weaves expressively: your face." This closing line succinctly captures the core contrast between the two individuals. The other person loves from a distance, finding comfort in abstraction, while the speaker finds beauty in the intimate, textured details. In "Yours & Mine," Alice Fulton masterfully explores the dynamics of a relationship through the lens of differing perspectives. The poem's rich imagery and introspective tone invite readers to consider the ways in which they perceive and interact with their loved ones. Through the juxtaposition of distance and intimacy, abstraction and detail, Fulton reveals the intricate dance of love and the delicate balance between seeing and truly understanding one another.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LOVE POEM by KAREN SWENSON THE CAGED GOLDFINCH by THOMAS HARDY SANDALPHON by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE SHEPHEARDES CALENDER: APRIL by EDMUND SPENSER ON THE STATUE OF AN ANGEL, BY BIENAIME by WASHINGTON ALLSTON |
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