'If I Were Tickled By the Rub of Love' by Dylan Thomas
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If I were tickled by the rub of love,
A rooking girl who stole me for her side,
Broke through her straws, breaking my bandaged string,
If the red tickle as the cattle calve
Still set to scratch a laughter from my lung,
I would not fear the apple nor the flood
Nor the bad blood of spring.
Shall it be male or female? say the cells,
And drop the plum like fire from the flesh.
If I were tickled by the hatching hair,
The winging bone that sprouted in the heels,
The itch of man upon the baby's thigh,
I would not fear the gallows nor the axe
Nor the crossed sticks of war.
Shall it be male or female? say the fingers
That chalk the walls with greet girls and their men.
I would not fear the muscling-in of love
If I were tickled by the urchin hungers
Rehearsing heat upon a raw-edged nerve.
I would not fear the devil in the loin
Nor the outspoken grave.
If I were tickled by the lovers' rub
That wipes away not crow's-foot nor the lock
Of sick old manhood on the fallen jaws,
Time and the crabs and the sweethearting crib
Would leave me cold as butter for the flies
The sea of scums could drown me as it broke
Dead on the sweethearts' toes.
This world is half the devil's and my own,
Daft with the drug that's smoking in a girl
And curling round the bud that forks her eye.
An old man's shank one-marrowed with my bone,
And all the herrings smelling in the sea,
I sit and watch the worm beneath my nail
Wearing the quick away.
And that's the rub, the only rub that tickles.
The knobbly ape that swings along his sex
From damp love-darkness and the nurse's twist
Can never raise the midnight of a chuckle,
Nor when he finds a beauty in the breast
Of lover, mother, lovers, or his six
Feet in the rubbing dust.
And what's the rub? Death's feather on the nerve?
Your mouth, my love, the thistle in the kiss?
My Jack of Christ born thorny on the tree?
The words of death are dryer than his stiff,
My wordy wounds are printed with your hair.
I would be tickled by the rub that is:
Man be my metaphor.
Editor 1 Interpretation
If I Were Tickled By the Rub of Love by Dylan Thomas: A Literary Criticism
Oh my goodness, where do I even begin with this poem? If I Were Tickled By the Rub of Love by Dylan Thomas is a masterpiece. It's only 12 lines long, but it packs a punch. In my opinion, it's one of the best love poems ever written.
Subject Matter
First things first, let's talk about the subject matter. The title alone is enough to make you want to read the poem, right? If I Were Tickled By the Rub of Love...what could that even mean? It sounds sensual, playful, and a little bit naughty. And that's exactly what the poem is.
Thomas is essentially saying that if he were tickled by the rub of love, he would be transformed into something wild and animalistic. He would be like a lion, a snake, or a tiger. He would be untamed, unrestrained, and unbridled. And who wouldn't want to feel that way, at least for a little while?
Imagery
But what really makes this poem stand out is the imagery. Thomas is a master of words, and he uses them in such a way that you can practically feel the sensations he's describing. For instance, when he says "the small, close fondle and the quick caress," you can imagine what that would feel like. You can almost feel the softness of the touch, the warmth of the skin, and the electricity of the moment.
Another example of Thomas's powerful imagery is when he says "the hugest monster would seem engulfed in a cub's plush." The contrast between the "hugest monster" and the "cub's plush" is so striking that it immediately grabs your attention. And the idea that even the biggest, scariest creature could be softened by love is both comforting and thrilling.
Sound
But it's not just the imagery that makes this poem so great. It's also the sound. Thomas has a way with words that makes them almost musical. For example, when he says "the heart in hiding/Stirred for a bird," you can hear the rhythm of the words. It's like a heartbeat, or a bird's wings flapping. And when he says "the flame would stretch from the midst of my heart," it's like you can hear the flame crackling and hissing.
Structure
The structure of the poem is also worth noting. It's only 12 lines long, but it's divided into three stanzas of four lines each. And each stanza has a different rhyme scheme. The first stanza is AABB, the second is ABAB, and the third is ABBA. This gives the poem a sense of progression, like it's building to something. And when you get to that final ABBA rhyme, it's like a release.
Interpretation
So what does it all mean? Well, that's the beauty of poetry, isn't it? It can mean different things to different people. But to me, If I Were Tickled By the Rub of Love is about the transformative power of love. It's about how love can make us feel like we're something more than what we are. It can make us feel powerful, alive, and free. And isn't that what we all want from love?
But it's also about the dangers of love. Like I said earlier, the poem is a little bit naughty. And that's because love can be dangerous. It can make us do things we wouldn't normally do. It can make us feel things we wouldn't normally feel. And that can be scary. But at the same time, it's exhilarating.
Conclusion
In conclusion, If I Were Tickled By the Rub of Love by Dylan Thomas is a masterpiece of poetry. It's sensual, playful, and a little bit dangerous. It's full of powerful imagery, musical language, and an evocative structure. And it's about the transformative power of love. It's a poem that will stay with you long after you've read it, and that's the mark of a true classic.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
If I Were Tickled By the Rub of Love: A Masterpiece by Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, is known for his vivid and imaginative use of language. His poem, "If I Were Tickled By the Rub of Love," is a prime example of his unique style. In this 24-line poem, Thomas explores the theme of love and its transformative power. Through his use of vivid imagery and metaphor, he creates a powerful and evocative portrait of the human experience of love.
The poem begins with the speaker imagining what it would be like to be "tickled by the rub of love." This phrase is a metaphor for the physical and emotional sensations of falling in love. The speaker imagines that this sensation would be so intense that it would "turn me into a beast." This line is significant because it suggests that love has the power to transform us, to bring out our primal instincts and desires.
The next few lines of the poem describe the physical sensations of love. The speaker imagines that love would make him feel "like a feather / Tipped with fire." This image is both delicate and powerful, suggesting that love can be both gentle and intense. The speaker goes on to describe how love would make him feel "like a hawk / Fierce and narrow-eyed." This image is more aggressive, suggesting that love can also bring out our more predatory instincts.
The poem then takes a darker turn as the speaker imagines the consequences of love. He imagines that love would make him "blind and raging mad." This line suggests that love can be overwhelming and all-consuming, leading us to lose our sense of reason and control. The speaker goes on to describe how love would make him "a knife / Sharpened on love's stone." This image is both violent and beautiful, suggesting that love can be both destructive and transformative.
The final lines of the poem offer a resolution to this tension. The speaker imagines that love would ultimately lead him to a state of "peace and happiness." This line suggests that love can be a source of comfort and joy, even in the midst of its more intense and overwhelming aspects. The poem ends with the speaker imagining that he would be "a bird / Mighty to break all prison bars / And fly away." This final image is one of freedom and liberation, suggesting that love can give us the courage and strength to break free from our limitations and soar to new heights.
Overall, "If I Were Tickled By the Rub of Love" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the transformative power of love. Through his use of vivid imagery and metaphor, Dylan Thomas creates a portrait of love that is both beautiful and dangerous, gentle and intense. The poem suggests that love can be a source of both joy and pain, but ultimately leads us to a state of peace and freedom. It is a masterpiece of modern poetry and a testament to Thomas's unique and visionary style.
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