'Buried Love' by Sara Teasdale

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I have come to bury Love
Beneath a tree,
In the forest tall and black
Where none can see.

I shall put no flowers at his head,
Nor stone at his feet,
For the mouth I loved so much
Was bittersweet.

I shall go no more to his grave,
For the woods are cold.
I shall gather as much of joy
As my hands can hold.

I shall stay all day in the sun
Where the wide winds blow, --
But oh, I shall cry at night
When none will know.


Submitted by Venus

Editor 1 Interpretation

Buried Love: A Poem of Heartache and Longing

Introduction

Sara Teasdale's poem "Buried Love" is a haunting exploration of love lost, hidden, and never quite forgotten. Written in 1917, during a time of great upheaval and uncertainty, Teasdale's words capture the pain and longing that many felt in the face of war, social upheaval, and personal loss. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of the poem, as well as its place in Teasdale's body of work and in the larger canon of American poetry.

Themes

At its core, "Buried Love" is a poem about the power of memory and the persistence of love. The speaker of the poem is haunted by the memory of a love that was never fully realized, that was buried "deep as the grave" and yet still manages to stir her heart. The theme of love as a force that transcends time and space is a common one in literature, but Teasdale's take on it is particularly poignant. The image of buried love suggests something that is hidden or forgotten, yet still capable of exerting a powerful pull on the heart.

Another important theme in the poem is the idea of loss and the desire to reclaim what has been taken away. The speaker's longing for her buried love is driven by a sense of regret and a desire to recapture something that was lost. This theme is echoed in the imagery of the poem, which is filled with images of death and decay. The speaker describes her love as "dead and out of sight," and yet still capable of stirring her heart. This tension between death and life, between loss and longing, is what gives the poem its haunting power.

Imagery

One of the most striking aspects of "Buried Love" is its use of imagery. Teasdale's language is spare and precise, yet she manages to create vivid and evocative images that stay with the reader long after the poem is over. The image of buried love, for example, is a powerful one that resonates throughout the poem. The speaker describes her love as "dead and out of sight," yet still capable of stirring her heart. This image of something buried and forgotten, yet still capable of exerting a powerful pull, is a haunting one that captures the central theme of the poem.

The poem is also filled with images of death and decay. The speaker describes her love as "dead," and the "earth" that covers it as "cold and heavy." These images create a sense of finality and loss, yet they are also juxtaposed with images of life and renewal. The speaker describes the "winds and rains" that beat against the earth, suggesting the cyclical nature of life and death. The image of the "green grass growing above" the buried love is a powerful one that suggests the persistence of life even in the face of death.

Language

Teasdale's language in "Buried Love" is spare and precise, yet it manages to convey a powerful sense of emotion. The poem is structured around a series of short, declarative sentences that create a sense of urgency and intensity. The repetition of the phrase "deep as the grave" throughout the poem emphasizes the finality of the speaker's loss, while the repeated use of the word "cold" creates a sense of emptiness and desolation.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem's language is its use of metaphor. The image of buried love, for example, is a metaphor that captures the central theme of the poem. The speaker also uses metaphor to describe the earth that covers her love, comparing it to a "heavy stone" and a "dead thing." These metaphors create a sense of weight and finality that emphasizes the speaker's sense of loss.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Buried Love" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and memory. Teasdale's spare and precise language, combined with her evocative imagery and use of metaphor, creates a sense of urgency and intensity that stays with the reader long after the poem is over. The poem's central image of buried love suggests something that is hidden and forgotten, yet still capable of exerting a powerful pull on the heart. This tension between death and life, between loss and longing, is what gives the poem its haunting power and ensures its place in the canon of American poetry.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Buried Love: A Poem of Heartbreak and Longing

Sara Teasdale's poem "Buried Love" is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of the pain and longing that can come with unrequited love. Written in 1917, the poem is a classic example of Teasdale's lyrical style, with its simple yet evocative language and its powerful emotional resonance.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a garden that is overgrown and neglected, with "weeds and flowers" growing together in a tangled mess. This garden serves as a metaphor for the speaker's own heart, which is similarly overgrown with emotions that she cannot control. She describes her heart as a "wilderness" that is "full of thorns and roses," suggesting that her love is both beautiful and painful.

The speaker then goes on to describe a buried love that she has kept hidden for years. This love is like a "treasure" that she has buried deep within her heart, and she has kept it hidden from the world for fear of rejection or ridicule. She describes this buried love as a "secret flame" that burns within her, even though she knows that it can never be fulfilled.

The poem then takes a darker turn, as the speaker describes the pain and loneliness that come with unrequited love. She describes herself as a "ghost" who wanders through the world, unseen and unnoticed by those around her. She longs for someone to see her, to understand her, and to love her in return, but she knows that this is impossible.

The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as the speaker describes the moment when she finally gives up on her buried love. She says that she will "let it go" and "bury it deep," acknowledging that it can never be fulfilled and that it is better to let it go than to continue to suffer. She ends the poem with a sense of resignation and acceptance, saying that she will "go my way" and "forget" the love that she has buried.

Overall, "Buried Love" is a deeply emotional and poignant poem that explores the pain and longing that can come with unrequited love. Teasdale's use of metaphor and imagery is particularly effective, as she uses the overgrown garden to represent the speaker's own heart and the buried love that she has kept hidden for so long. The poem is also notable for its sense of resignation and acceptance, as the speaker finally comes to terms with the fact that her love can never be fulfilled.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of language. Teasdale's writing is simple and direct, yet it is also incredibly evocative. She uses words like "wilderness," "thorns," and "ghost" to create a vivid picture of the speaker's emotional state, and she uses phrases like "secret flame" and "buried love" to convey the depth and intensity of the speaker's feelings.

Another notable aspect of the poem is its structure. The poem is written in four stanzas, each with four lines, and each stanza follows a similar pattern of description, reflection, and resignation. This structure gives the poem a sense of balance and symmetry, and it also reinforces the idea that the speaker has come to a place of acceptance and peace.

In terms of themes, "Buried Love" is a poem that explores the pain and longing that can come with unrequited love. The speaker's buried love represents a desire that can never be fulfilled, and her sense of loneliness and isolation is a common experience for anyone who has ever loved someone who cannot or will not love them in return. The poem also touches on themes of acceptance and resignation, as the speaker comes to terms with the fact that her love can never be fulfilled and that it is better to let it go than to continue to suffer.

In conclusion, "Buried Love" is a classic poem that explores the pain and longing that can come with unrequited love. Teasdale's use of metaphor and imagery is particularly effective, and her simple yet evocative language creates a powerful emotional resonance. The poem's structure and themes also contribute to its overall impact, making it a timeless exploration of the human heart and its deepest desires.

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