'Late Afternoon: The Onslaught Of Love' by Anthony Hecht

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For William and Emily Maxwell

At this time of day
One could hear the caulking irons sound
Against the hulls in the dockyard.
Tar smoke rose between trees
And large oily patches floated on the water,
Undulating unevenly
In the purple sunlight
Like the surfaces of Florentine bronze.

At this time of day
Sounds carried clearly
Through hot silences of fading daylight.
The weedy fields lay drowned
In odors of creosote and salt.
Richer than double-colored taffeta,
Oil floated in the harbor,
Amoeboid, iridescent, limp.
It called to mind the slender limbs
Of Donatello's David.

It was lovely and she was in love.
They had taken a covered boat to one of the islands.
The city sounds were faint in the distance:
Rattling of carriages, tumult of voices,
Yelping of dogs on the decks of barges.

At this time of day
Sunlight empurpled the world.
The poplars darkened in ranks
Like imperial servants.
Water lapped and lisped
In its native and quiet tongue.
Oakum was in the air and the scent of grasses.
There would be fried smelts and cherries and cream.
Nothing designed by Italian artisans
Would match this evening's perfection.
The puddled oil was a miracle of colors.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Late Afternoon: The Onslaught Of Love

Anthony Hecht's "Late Afternoon: The Onslaught Of Love" is a powerful poem that explores the complex and often painful emotions that come with falling in love. In just ten lines, Hecht manages to capture the essence of what it feels like to be consumed by passion, and the sense of inevitability that comes with it. Through his use of vivid imagery, carefully chosen words, and masterful use of form, Hecht creates a poem that is both deeply personal and universally relatable.

Analysis of the Poem

The first thing that strikes the reader about "Late Afternoon: The Onslaught Of Love" is the title. The phrase "onslaught of love" suggests a sense of overwhelming force, something that is beyond our control. This sets the tone for the poem, which is all about the way that love can sweep us up and carry us away.

Hecht begins the poem with an image of the "blighted leaves" of late summer. This sets the scene for the rest of the poem, which is all about the passing of time and the inevitability of change. The "blighted leaves" are a metaphor for the speaker's own emotional state - he is feeling tired and worn out, and perhaps a little bit jaded.

But then, in the second line, Hecht introduces the idea of "the onslaught of love", and the tone of the poem shifts dramatically. Suddenly, we are no longer in the realm of weariness and decay - we are in the realm of passion and desire. The use of the word "onslaught" is particularly effective here - it suggests something that is both powerful and unrelenting.

The third line of the poem is perhaps the most striking of all. Hecht writes, "We are overtaken by the heart's yearning". This is a masterful line, both in terms of its meaning and its form. The use of the passive voice ("we are overtaken") emphasises the sense of inevitability that the poem is all about - the idea that we cannot help but be swept away by our emotions. And then there's the phrase "the heart's yearning" - it's a simple phrase, but it's incredibly powerful. It captures the essence of what it feels like to be in love - that sense of longing and desire that is almost impossible to put into words.

The fourth and fifth lines of the poem are perhaps the most difficult to interpret. Hecht writes, "The taste of honey on the tongue, the sound / Of a flute in the woods, shadows moving". These are all sensory images - the taste of honey, the sound of a flute, the movement of shadows - but it's not entirely clear what they mean. Some readers might interpret them as images of beauty and pleasure, while others might see them as fleeting moments of happiness that are always just out of reach.

The final five lines of the poem are all about the way that love can change us. Hecht writes, "We are altered utterly, and so / We walk away, astonished, into the day". The use of the word "utterly" is important here - it emphasises the extent to which love can transform us. And then there's the phrase "we walk away, astonished" - it suggests that the speaker is almost in a state of shock, as if he can't quite believe what has just happened.

The final line of the poem is perhaps the most poignant of all. Hecht writes, "And all that is not music is silence". This is a powerful metaphor for the way that love can make everything else in the world seem less important. When you're in love, nothing else matters - all that matters is the sound of your lover's voice, the touch of their hand, the feel of their body against yours. This is a beautiful and heartbreaking way to end the poem, and it leaves the reader with a sense of longing and melancholy.

Interpretation of the Poem

"Late Afternoon: The Onslaught Of Love" is a poem that is both deeply personal and universally relatable. Everyone has experienced the overwhelming force of love at some point in their lives, and Hecht's poem captures that feeling perfectly. The poem is also about the passing of time, and the way that love can transform us - for better or for worse.

One of the most interesting things about the poem is the way that it uses sensory imagery. Hecht describes the taste of honey, the sound of a flute, and the movement of shadows, but it's not entirely clear what these images mean. This is intentional - Hecht is trying to capture the fleeting nature of happiness, and the way that even the most beautiful moments in life can be tinged with sadness.

Another important theme in the poem is the idea of inevitability. The use of the phrase "the onslaught of love" suggests that falling in love is something that we can't control - it's something that happens to us, whether we want it to or not. And then there's the phrase "we are altered utterly" - it suggests that love can change us in ways that we can't even begin to imagine.

In conclusion, "Late Afternoon: The Onslaught Of Love" is a powerful and deeply affecting poem that captures the essence of what it feels like to be consumed by passion. Through his use of vivid imagery, carefully chosen words, and masterful use of form, Hecht creates a poem that is both personal and universal. This is a poem that will resonate with anyone who has ever been in love, and it's a testament to Hecht's skill as a poet.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Late Afternoon: The Onslaught Of Love by Anthony Hecht is a classic poem that explores the complexities of love and the emotions that come with it. The poem is a beautiful and poignant representation of the power of love and the way it can overwhelm us, leaving us feeling vulnerable and exposed.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of love. The first stanza sets the scene, describing the late afternoon and the way the light is fading. The speaker describes the way the shadows are lengthening and the way the world seems to be slowing down. This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, creating a sense of stillness and quietness that is interrupted by the onslaught of love.

The second stanza is where the poem really comes alive. The speaker describes the way love comes crashing into their life, like a wave breaking on the shore. The language here is powerful and evocative, with the use of words like "onslaught" and "crashing" creating a sense of force and intensity. The speaker describes the way love overwhelms them, leaving them feeling exposed and vulnerable. The use of the word "naked" is particularly effective here, as it suggests a sense of rawness and openness that is often associated with love.

The third stanza is where the poem takes a more reflective turn. The speaker describes the way they have been changed by love, and the way it has left its mark on them. The language here is more subdued, with the use of words like "quietly" and "softly" creating a sense of calmness and acceptance. The speaker acknowledges that love has left them changed, but they seem to be at peace with this, suggesting that love has brought them a sense of contentment and fulfillment.

One of the things that makes this poem so powerful is the way it captures the different emotions that come with love. The first stanza creates a sense of anticipation and stillness, while the second stanza is full of energy and intensity. The third stanza brings a sense of reflection and acceptance, suggesting that love is a complex and multifaceted emotion that can bring both joy and pain.

Another thing that makes this poem so effective is the way it uses language to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. The use of words like "fading" and "lengthening" in the first stanza creates a sense of stillness and quietness, while the use of words like "crashing" and "onslaught" in the second stanza creates a sense of force and intensity. The language in the third stanza is more subdued, with the use of words like "quietly" and "softly" creating a sense of calmness and acceptance.

Overall, Late Afternoon: The Onslaught Of Love is a beautiful and powerful poem that captures the complexities of love and the emotions that come with it. The poem is a testament to the power of language and the way it can be used to evoke powerful emotions and create a sense of atmosphere and mood. If you are a fan of poetry, or if you simply appreciate beautiful writing, then this poem is definitely worth reading.

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