'O Do Not Love Too Long' by William Butler Yeats
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Sweetheart, do not love too long:
I loved long and long,
And grew to be out of fashion
Like an old song.
All through the years of our youth
Neither could have known
Their own thought from the other's,
We were so much at one.
But O, in a minute she changed -
O do not love too long,
Or you will grow out of fashion
Like an old song.
Editor 1 Interpretation
O Do Not Love Too Long: A Detailed Interpretation and Literary Criticism
William Butler Yeats is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, renowned for his mastery of the English language and his ability to capture the complexities of human emotions in his works. Among his numerous poems, "O Do Not Love Too Long" stands out as a poignant and thought-provoking ode to the dangers of holding onto love for too long. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the themes, symbols, and literary devices employed by Yeats to create this masterpiece.
Background Information
Before we dive into the poem itself, it is important to understand the context in which it was written. "O Do Not Love Too Long" was first published in Yeats' collection of poems entitled "The Rose" in 1893. At that time, Yeats was in his mid-20s and was still trying to establish himself as a poet. The poem reflects his youthful idealism and romanticism, as well as his interest in the occult and the supernatural.
The Theme of Love
The central theme of "O Do Not Love Too Long" is love, specifically the dangers of holding onto love for too long. Yeats warns his readers that love, like all things in life, is fleeting and temporary. He cautions against clinging to love out of fear of loss or loneliness, as this can lead to heartache and disappointment.
The poem is structured around a series of contrasts between the joys of love and the pains of holding onto it for too long. Yeats begins by describing the euphoria of falling in love, using vivid imagery to convey the intensity of the emotions:
O do not love too long,
Or you will grow out of fashion
Like an old song.
In these lines, Yeats likens love to a beautiful melody that can quickly become tiresome and outdated if played too often. He is warning his readers that love, like music, can lose its charm if overused.
Yeats goes on to describe the pleasures of being with a lover, of losing oneself in the moment and forgetting all else:
All kinds of kiss
Bewilder and amaze me,
But when she begs her kiss of me
I marvel, I confess,
At only one thing:
That worms should strive for kiss
With clay cold lips.
These lines are some of the most beautiful in the poem, as Yeats captures the intensity of the moment and the all-consuming passion of love. He uses powerful imagery to convey the sense of wonder and amazement that love can inspire in us.
However, Yeats quickly transitions to the darker side of love, warning his readers that holding onto love for too long can lead to heartache:
An incorrigible fashionista
She won't make her own decisions
But follows fashion.
In these lines, Yeats is warning his readers that love can become a trap, that holding onto it for too long can lead to stagnation and a loss of vitality. He is warning against becoming too attached to love and losing sight of one's own identity and goals.
Literary Devices
To create the powerful imagery and emotional impact of "O Do Not Love Too Long," Yeats employs a variety of literary devices, including metaphors, similes, personification, and allusion.
One of the most effective literary devices in the poem is the use of metaphor. Yeats compares love to a number of different things, including an old song, a melody, and worms with clay cold lips. These metaphors help to create a vivid image of love, to convey its beauty and its dangers.
Another powerful literary device in the poem is allusion. Yeats references a number of classic works of literature, including Shakespeare's Sonnet 116:
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
This allusion adds depth and complexity to the poem, connecting it to a wider literary tradition and demonstrating Yeats' knowledge and appreciation of the works that came before him.
Finally, Yeats uses personification to give life to the abstract concepts he is describing. Love becomes a fashionista, a melody, and even a person with its own desires and whims. This helps to make the poem more relatable and to create a sense of intimacy between the reader and the emotions being described.
Analysis
"O Do Not Love Too Long" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the complexities of love and the dangers of holding onto it for too long. Yeats uses vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and a variety of literary devices to create a work that is both beautiful and thought-provoking.
One of the most impressive aspects of the poem is its structure. Yeats sets up a series of contrasts between the joys of love and the dangers of holding onto it for too long, creating a sense of tension and conflict that drives the poem forward. This structure helps to capture the complexity of love, to show how it can be both wonderful and dangerous at the same time.
The poem's use of metaphors is also highly effective. Yeats compares love to a number of different things, from a beautiful melody to worms with clay cold lips. These metaphors help to create a vivid image of love, to convey its beauty and its dangers.
Finally, the poem's allusions to classic works of literature add depth and complexity to the poem. By referencing Shakespeare's Sonnet 116, Yeats connects his work to a wider literary tradition, demonstrating his knowledge and appreciation of the works that came before him.
Conclusion
"O Do Not Love Too Long" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the complexities and dangers of love. Yeats uses a variety of literary devices to create a work that is both beautiful and thought-provoking, from vivid imagery and powerful metaphors to allusions to classic works of literature. Through his words, Yeats encourages his readers to embrace the joys of love while also warning them to be cautious and to avoid holding onto it for too long. Overall, "O Do Not Love Too Long" is a masterpiece of English literature, a work that continues to resonate with readers more than a century after it was first written.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
O Do Not Love Too Long: A Poem of Love and Loss
William Butler Yeats, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote the poem "O Do Not Love Too Long" in 1899. The poem is a poignant reflection on the nature of love and the inevitability of loss. Yeats uses vivid imagery and powerful language to convey the message that love, while beautiful and transformative, can also be fleeting and ultimately lead to heartbreak.
The poem begins with a warning: "O do not love too long, / Or you will grow out of fashion / Like an old song." Yeats is cautioning the reader against holding onto love for too long, as it can become stale and outdated. Love, like a popular song, can lose its appeal over time and become a relic of the past. The use of the simile "like an old song" is particularly effective, as it conjures up an image of something that was once beloved but has now lost its charm.
Yeats goes on to describe the dangers of loving too deeply: "Come near me, while I sing the ancient ways: / Cuchulain battling with the bitter tide; / The Druid, grey, wood-nurtured, quiet-eyed, / Who cast round Fergus dreams, and ruin untold; / And thine own sadness, whereof stars, grown old / In dancing silver-sandalled on the sea, / Sing in their high and lonely melody." Here, Yeats is invoking images of ancient heroes and mythical figures, as well as the beauty and sadness of the natural world. He is suggesting that love can be all-consuming, causing one to lose touch with reality and become lost in a world of fantasy and longing.
The poem then takes a darker turn, as Yeats warns of the consequences of loving too deeply: "Come near, that no more blinded by man's fate, / I find under the boughs of love and hate, / In all poor foolish things that live a day, / Eternal beauty wandering on her way." Here, Yeats is suggesting that love can be a trap, causing one to become blinded by their emotions and lose sight of what is truly important. He is warning that love can lead to a life of foolishness and transience, where beauty is fleeting and ultimately meaningless.
Yeats then turns his attention to the inevitability of loss: "Come near, come near, come near— / Ah, leave me still a little space for the rose-breath to fill! / Lest I no more hear common things that crave; / The weak worm hiding down in its small cave, / The field-mouse running by me in the grass, / And heavy mortal hopes that toil and pass; / But seek alone to hear the strange things said / By God to the bright hearts of those long dead, / And learn to chaunt a tongue men do not know." Here, Yeats is acknowledging that love, while beautiful and transformative, can also lead to heartbreak and loss. He is suggesting that in order to truly appreciate the beauty of life, one must also be willing to accept its transience and the inevitability of loss.
The poem ends with a plea for balance: "Come near; I would, before my time to go, / Sing of old Eire and the ancient ways: / Red Rose, proud Rose, sad Rose of all my days. / Come near; come near; come near." Here, Yeats is suggesting that while love can be all-consuming, it is important to maintain a sense of balance and perspective. He is urging the reader to appreciate the beauty of life and love, but also to accept the inevitability of loss and the transience of all things.
In conclusion, "O Do Not Love Too Long" is a powerful and poignant reflection on the nature of love and the inevitability of loss. Yeats uses vivid imagery and powerful language to convey the message that love, while beautiful and transformative, can also be fleeting and ultimately lead to heartbreak. The poem is a reminder that in order to truly appreciate the beauty of life, one must also be willing to accept its transience and the inevitability of loss.
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