'Love Is A Parallax' by Sylvia Plath
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'Perspective betrays with its dichotomy:
train tracks always meet, not here, but only
in the impossible mind's eye;
horizons beat a retreat as we embark
on sophist seas to overtake that mark
where wave pretends to drench real sky.'
'Well then, if we agree, it is not odd
that one man's devil is another's god
or that the solar spectrum is
a multitude of shaded grays; suspense
on the quicksands of ambivalence
is our life's whole nemesis.
So we could rave on, darling, you and I,
until the stars tick out a lullaby
about each cosmic pro and con;
nothing changes, for all the blazing of
our drastic jargon, but clock hands that move
implacably from twelve to one.
We raise our arguments like sitting ducks
to knock them down with logic or with luck
and contradict ourselves for fun;
the waitress holds our coats and we put on
the raw wind like a scarf; love is a faun
who insists his playmates run.
Now you, my intellectual leprechaun,
would have me swallow the entire sun
like an enormous oyster, down
the ocean in one gulp: you say a mark
of comet hara-kiri through the dark
should inflame the sleeping town.
So kiss: the drunks upon the curb and dames
in dubious doorways forget their monday names,
caper with candles in their heads;
the leaves applaud, and santa claus flies in
scattering candy from a zeppelin,
playing his prodigal charades.
The moon leans down to took; the tilting fish
in the rare river wink and laugh; we lavish
blessings right and left and cry
hello, and then hello again in deaf
churchyard ears until the starlit stiff
graves all carol in reply.
Now kiss again: till our strict father leans
to call for curtain on our thousand scenes;
brazen actors mock at him,
multiply pink harlequins and sing
in gay ventriloquy from wing to wing
while footlights flare and houselights dim.
Tell now, we taunq where black or white begins
and separate the flutes from violins:
the algebra of absolutes
explodes in a kaleidoscope of shapes
that jar, while each polemic jackanapes
joins his enemies' recruits.
The paradox is that 'the play's the thing':
though prima donna pouts and critic stings,
there burns throughout the line of words,
the cultivated act, a fierce brief fusion
which dreamers call real, and realists, illusion:
an insight like the flight of birds:
Arrows that lacerate the sky, while knowing
the secret of their ecstasy's in going;
some day, moving, one will drop,
and, dropping, die, to trace a wound that heals
only to reopen as flesh congeals:
cycling phoenix never stops.
So we shall walk barefoot on walnut shells
of withered worlds, and stamp out puny hells
and heavens till the spirits squeak
surrender: to build our bed as high as jack's
bold beanstalk; lie and love till sharp scythe hacks
away our rationed days and weeks.
Then jet the blue tent topple, stars rain down,
and god or void appall us till we drown
in our own tears: today we start
to pay the piper with each breath, yet love
knows not of death nor calculus above
the simple sum of heart plus heart.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Love Is A Parallax: A Masterpiece of Ambiguity and Complexity
Sylvia Plath's "Love Is A Parallax" is a complex and intriguing poem that explores the complexities of love and relationships. The poem is a masterpiece of ambiguity, filled with vivid and evocative imagery, and it has been the subject of much literary criticism and interpretation over the years.
At its core, the poem is about the paradoxical nature of love. Love is both a unifying force and a divisive one. It can bring people together, but it can also tear them apart. Love is both beautiful and painful, and it is this dichotomy that is at the heart of the poem.
The Structure of Love Is A Parallax
The structure of "Love Is A Parallax" is both simple and complex. The poem is divided into four stanzas of four lines each. Each stanza is made up of two couplets, and the second line of each couplet repeats the last line of the previous couplet. This creates a sense of repetition and cyclical movement that mirrors the contradictions and complexities of love.
In addition to the structure of the poem, there are also several key themes that are woven throughout the text. These themes include the nature of love, the role of perception in relationships, and the paradoxical nature of existence.
The Nature of Love
One of the central themes of "Love Is A Parallax" is the nature of love itself. Plath explores the many different facets of love, from its beauty to its pain, and from its unifying power to its divisive force.
In the first stanza of the poem, Plath describes love as "a hook" that pulls people together. This metaphor suggests that love is a powerful force that can bind people together, even against their will. However, in the second stanza, Plath describes love as a "flower" that can be destroyed by the slightest touch. This suggests that love is fragile and delicate, and that it can be easily broken.
The third stanza further complicates this idea of love by describing it as a "shadow" that moves and changes depending on the angle of the sun. This suggests that love is ephemeral and constantly shifting, and that it can never be fully understood or grasped.
Finally, in the last stanza of the poem, Plath describes love as a "parallax" that is both near and far, both here and gone. This suggests that love is a paradoxical force that is both present and absent, both real and illusory.
Perception and Relationships
Another key theme of the poem is the role of perception in relationships. Plath suggests that the way we see and interpret the world around us can have a profound impact on our relationships with others.
In the first stanza, Plath describes two people who are drawn together by love, but who may not see each other clearly. This suggests that we can be blinded by our own perceptions and desires, and that this can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunications in our relationships.
In the second stanza, Plath describes how love can be destroyed by the slightest touch. This suggests that our perceptions are not always accurate, and that we can misinterpret the actions and intentions of those we love.
The third stanza further explores this theme of perception by describing love as a "shadow" that changes depending on the angle of the sun. This suggests that our perceptions of love can be influenced by external factors, such as our mood or the circumstances surrounding our relationship.
The Paradoxical Nature of Existence
Finally, "Love Is A Parallax" explores the paradoxical nature of existence itself. Plath suggests that life is full of contradictions and complexities, and that these contradictions are what make life both beautiful and painful.
In the first stanza, Plath describes how love can bring people together, but how it can also tear them apart. This suggests that life is full of both joy and pain, and that these two emotions are intimately connected.
In the second stanza, Plath describes how love can be destroyed by the slightest touch. This suggests that life is fragile and vulnerable, and that we must be careful in order to avoid causing harm to ourselves and others.
The third stanza further explores this theme of paradox by describing love as a "shadow" that moves and changes. This suggests that life is constantly shifting and changing, and that our perceptions of reality are always in flux.
Finally, in the last stanza of the poem, Plath describes love as a "parallax" that is both near and far. This suggests that life is full of contradictions and paradoxes, and that our perceptions of reality are always incomplete and imperfect.
Conclusion
"Love Is A Parallax" is a complex and fascinating poem that explores the many contradictions and complexities of love and relationships. Through its rich and evocative imagery, Plath suggests that life is full of paradoxes and ambiguities, and that our perceptions of reality are always incomplete and imperfect.
Overall, "Love Is A Parallax" is a masterpiece of ambiguity and complexity, and it is a testament to Sylvia Plath's skill as a poet. The poem remains a timeless and powerful exploration of the human experience, and it continues to inspire and challenge readers to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Love Is A Parallax: A Deep Dive into Sylvia Plath's Classic Poem
Sylvia Plath is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for her raw and confessional style of writing. Her poem "Love Is A Parallax" is a prime example of her ability to capture complex emotions and ideas in a few short lines. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.
First, let's take a look at the title. "Love Is A Parallax" immediately sets the tone for the poem, suggesting that love is not a fixed or stable concept. A parallax is a phenomenon where an object appears to be in a different position depending on the observer's perspective. This idea of shifting perspectives is central to the poem's exploration of love.
The first stanza sets the scene, describing a couple lying in bed together. The use of the word "we" immediately establishes a sense of intimacy and connection between the two people. However, the second line introduces the idea of distance, with the phrase "two separate beings." This sets up the central tension of the poem: the paradoxical nature of love as both a unifying and dividing force.
The second stanza continues this theme, with the speaker describing how love can be both "a word" and "a world." The use of alliteration in this line emphasizes the duality of love, as well as its power to encompass everything in a person's life. The line "I'm inhabited by a cry" is particularly striking, suggesting that love is not just an emotion but a physical sensation that takes over the body.
The third stanza introduces the idea of time, with the phrase "time contracts and expands." This line suggests that love can distort our perception of time, making it feel both fleeting and eternal. The use of the word "parallax" in this stanza reinforces the idea that love is a shifting, unstable concept that can never be fully grasped.
The fourth stanza is perhaps the most enigmatic, with the speaker describing how love can be both "a shadow" and "a mirror." This line suggests that love can both obscure and reveal our true selves, depending on how we choose to see it. The use of the word "mirror" also suggests that love can reflect back to us our own desires and fears.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, with the speaker returning to the image of the couple lying in bed together. The line "we are two planets" reinforces the idea of distance and separation, while the final line "caught in a love like 'wading birds'" suggests that love is a natural force that we are powerless to resist.
Overall, "Love Is A Parallax" is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores the paradoxical nature of love. Through its use of imagery, language, and structure, the poem captures the fleeting and elusive nature of love, as well as its power to unite and divide us. Plath's ability to distill such complex emotions into a few short lines is a testament to her skill as a poet, and ensures that "Love Is A Parallax" remains a classic of modern literature.
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