'Love Is A Parallax' by Sylvia Plath

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'Perspective betrays with its dichotomy:
train tracks always meet, not here, but onlyin the impossible mind's eye;
horizons beat a retreat as we embark
on sophist seas to overtake that markwhere wave pretends to drench real sky.''Well then, if we agree, it is not odd
that one man's devil is another's godor that the solar spectrum is
a multitude of shaded grays; suspense
on the quicksands of ambivalenceis our life's whole nemesis.So we could rave on, darling, you and I,
until the stars tick out a lullabyabout each cosmic pro and con;
nothing changes, for all the blazing of
our drastic jargon, but clock hands that moveimplacably from twelve to one.We raise our arguments like sitting ducks
to knock them down with logic or with luckand contradict ourselves for fun;
the waitress holds our coats and we put on
the raw wind like a scarf; love is a faunwho insists his playmates run.Now you, my intellectual leprechaun,
would have me swallow the entire sunlike an enormous oyster, down
the ocean in one gulp: you say a mark
of comet hara-kiri through the darkshould 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 lavishblessings right and left and cry
hello, and then hello again in deaf
churchyard ears until the starlit stiffgraves 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 wingwhile 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 jackanapesjoins 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 hellsand heavens till the spirits squeak
surrender: to build our bed as high as jack's
bold beanstalk; lie and love till sharp scythe hacksaway our rationed days and weeks.Then jet the blue tent topple, stars rain down,
and god or void appall us till we drownin our own tears: today we start
to pay the piper with each breath, yet love
knows not of death nor calculus abovethe simple sum of heart plus heart.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry Analysis: Love Is A Parallax by Sylvia Plath

Have you ever experienced the feeling of being in love? How do you perceive love? Do you think love is a feeling that can be measured or defined? Sylvia Plath, the renowned poet, has written a powerful and thought-provoking poem, Love Is A Parallax. This poem is an exploration of love and how it can be perceived as both a fixed and fluid concept.

Overview

Love is a Parallax is a poem that was published in Sylvia Plath's book, "Ariel". It is a short, 12-line poem that packs a punch. The poem is structured in three stanzas, with the first and third stanzas consisting of three lines and the second stanza consisting of six lines.

The poem is an attempt to describe the complexities of love. It suggests that love is not a static concept. Rather, it is a fluid entity that can be perceived differently by different people. The poem uses the metaphor of a parallax to illustrate this point.

Analysis

The first stanza of the poem sets the stage for the rest of the poem. It introduces the idea of love being a parallax. The stanza reads:

Love is a parallax
A leap year's misnomer
A downpour of rain

The opening line, "Love is a parallax", sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The word "parallax" refers to the apparent displacement of an object when it is viewed from different angles. In this context, love is being viewed from different angles - from the perspective of different people.

The second line, "A leap year's misnomer", is a metaphor that suggests that love is something that is not always what it seems. A leap year is a year that has an extra day, and it is often associated with being a time when unusual things happen. The use of the word "misnomer" suggests that love is not always what it appears to be.

The third line, "A downpour of rain", is a metaphor for the overwhelming feeling of love. Rain is often associated with cleansing and renewal, and the use of this metaphor suggests that love has the power to wash away the past and bring about a new beginning.

The second stanza of the poem is longer than the other two stanzas. It is an exploration of the different ways in which love can be perceived. The stanza reads:

You can explain it all
But who does it touch?
A bit of Ariel
In all of us
Even in prose
Especially in poetry
For love
Is a parallax
A shifting of the eyes
A hand reaching out
In the darkness
To catch the rain

The opening line of the stanza, "You can explain it all", suggests that love is something that can be understood and explained. However, the second line, "But who does it touch?", raises the question of whether or not love can truly be understood. The use of the word "touch" suggests that love is something that is felt, rather than something that can be explained.

The third line, "A bit of Ariel in all of us", is a reference to Sylvia Plath's book, Ariel. The use of this reference suggests that love is something that is universal and that everyone experiences in some form.

The fourth and fifth lines, "Even in prose/Especially in poetry", suggest that love is something that can be expressed in many different ways. The use of prose and poetry as examples suggests that love can be expressed in both traditional and creative forms.

The final three lines of the stanza, "For love/Is a parallax/A shifting of the eyes", suggest that love is something that can be viewed from different angles. The use of the metaphor of a shifting of the eyes reinforces the idea that love is something that can be perceived differently by different people.

The final stanza of the poem is a return to the idea of love as a parallax. The stanza reads:

Love,
The world
Suddenly
Arose
And struck
Like lightning
One
Blinding
Wet
Jubilance

The opening line of the stanza, "Love", is a simple declaration. The repetition of the word suggests the power and intensity of love.

The second line, "The world/Suddenly/Arose", suggests that love has the power to change the way we see the world. The use of the word "suddenly" reinforces the idea that love is something that can strike us unexpectedly.

The third line, "And struck/Like lightning", is a powerful metaphor that suggests the intensity of love. Lightning is a phenomenon that is both beautiful and dangerous, and the use of this metaphor suggests that love is something that can be both exhilarating and risky.

The final four lines of the stanza, "One/Blinding/Wet/Jubilance", bring the poem to a close. The use of the word "one" suggests that love is a singular experience. The use of "blinding" and "wet" suggest the overwhelming and all-encompassing nature of love. The use of "jubilance" suggests that love is something that brings joy and happiness.

Interpretation

Love Is A Parallax is a poem that is open to interpretation. However, one possible interpretation is that love is a fluid entity that can be perceived differently by different people. The use of the metaphor of a parallax suggests that love is something that can be viewed from different angles.

The poem also suggests that love is something that is both powerful and unpredictable. The use of the metaphor of lightning reinforces this idea.

Overall, Love Is A Parallax is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complexities of love. It is a reminder that love is not a fixed concept, but rather a fluid entity that can be perceived in many different ways.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Love is a Parallax: A Deep Dive into Sylvia Plath's Classic Poem

Sylvia Plath is a name that needs no introduction in the world of literature. Her works have been celebrated for their raw emotion and vivid imagery, and her poem "Love is a Parallax" is no exception. In this 24-line poem, Plath explores the complexities of love and how it can be perceived differently by different people. In this analysis, we will delve deep into the poem and try to understand its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the line "Love is a parallax, a shift/a night light." The use of the word "parallax" is interesting here, as it refers to the apparent displacement of an object when viewed from different angles. In the context of love, this could mean that love can be perceived differently by different people, depending on their perspective. The use of "night light" adds to the imagery, as it suggests that love is something that illuminates the darkness.

The second line reads "a word, a tune, a kiss." Here, Plath is suggesting that love can take many forms, and can be expressed in different ways. The use of "word" suggests that love can be expressed through language, while "tune" suggests that it can be expressed through music. "Kiss" is a more physical expression of love, and suggests intimacy.

The third line reads "changes/shapes." This line is interesting, as it suggests that love is not a fixed entity, but something that can change and evolve over time. Love can take on different shapes depending on the circumstances and the people involved.

The fourth line reads "and shades." This line is a continuation of the previous line, and suggests that love can have different shades or nuances. Love can be bright and vibrant, or it can be dark and brooding.

The fifth line reads "whose meaning/none of us can ever grasp." This line is particularly poignant, as it suggests that love is something that is difficult to understand or define. Love is something that can be felt, but not necessarily explained. The use of "none of us" suggests that love is something that is universal, and that no one person has a monopoly on its meaning.

The sixth line reads "like the mercurial/metals." This line is interesting, as it compares love to metals that are prone to change. The use of "mercurial" suggests that love can be volatile and unpredictable, much like the element mercury. This line also suggests that love can be valuable, much like precious metals.

The seventh line reads "that perish in the/chemical rage of love." This line is particularly powerful, as it suggests that love can be destructive. The use of "chemical rage" suggests that love can be all-consuming, and that it can lead to intense emotions that can be difficult to control. The use of "perish" suggests that love can be fleeting, and that it can be destroyed as quickly as it is created.

The eighth line reads "a short circuit/in the disposable/gap." This line is interesting, as it suggests that love can be a short-lived experience. The use of "disposable gap" suggests that love can be something that is easily discarded or forgotten. This line also suggests that love can be something that is experienced in a moment of connection, but can be lost just as quickly.

The ninth line reads "distance between people." This line is particularly poignant, as it suggests that love can be something that is experienced across distances. Love can be something that connects people, even when they are physically apart.

The tenth line reads "between objects." This line is a continuation of the previous line, and suggests that love can be something that is experienced between objects, rather than just between people. This line also suggests that love can be something that is experienced in the world around us, rather than just within ourselves.

The eleventh line reads "between selves." This line is interesting, as it suggests that love can be something that is experienced within ourselves. Love can be something that we feel for ourselves, as well as for others.

The twelfth line reads "one solid diamond." This line is particularly powerful, as it suggests that love can be something that is enduring and unbreakable. The use of "solid diamond" suggests that love can be something that is valuable and precious, much like a diamond.

The thirteenth line reads "glittering on the/sea's dark blanket." This line is interesting, as it suggests that love can be something that stands out against the darkness. The use of "sea's dark blanket" suggests that love can be something that is experienced in the midst of darkness and despair.

The fourteenth line reads "iridescence of/the daemon's/iris." This line is particularly powerful, as it suggests that love can be something that is otherworldly. The use of "daemon's iris" suggests that love can be something that is experienced beyond the realm of the ordinary.

The fifteenth line reads "into the/angled realm of/non-Euclidean geometry." This line is particularly interesting, as it suggests that love can be something that is beyond our understanding. The use of "non-Euclidean geometry" suggests that love can be something that is experienced in a realm that is beyond our comprehension.

The sixteenth line reads "where parallel lines/intersect." This line is particularly powerful, as it suggests that love can be something that brings together things that are seemingly separate. The use of "parallel lines" suggests that love can be something that connects things that are seemingly unrelated.

The seventeenth line reads "when solid objects/become ghostly/hollows." This line is particularly poignant, as it suggests that love can be something that transforms the world around us. Love can be something that makes the ordinary seem extraordinary.

The eighteenth line reads "all the love/contained in the first/second word." This line is particularly powerful, as it suggests that love can be something that is contained within language. Love can be something that is expressed through words, and can be felt through the power of language.

The nineteenth line reads "Love is not a/relativity at the whim of/the observer." This line is interesting, as it suggests that love is not something that is subjective. Love is something that exists independently of our perceptions of it.

The twentieth line reads "Love is a/the law." This line is particularly powerful, as it suggests that love is something that is universal and unchanging. Love is something that exists beyond the realm of human experience.

The twenty-first line reads "saying/what everyone knows." This line is interesting, as it suggests that love is something that is universally understood. Love is something that is felt by everyone, regardless of their background or experiences.

The twenty-second line reads "is it?" This line is a continuation of the previous line, and suggests that love is something that is difficult to understand or define. The use of the question mark suggests that love is something that is open to interpretation.

The twenty-third line reads "Then/paint the air with love." This line is particularly powerful, as it suggests that love is something that can be expressed through art. Love can be something that is felt and experienced through the power of creativity.

The twenty-fourth and final line reads "you'll need it/to breathe." This line is particularly poignant, as it suggests that love is something that is essential to our survival. Love is something that we need in order to live and breathe.

In conclusion, "Love is a Parallax" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complexities of love. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Sylvia Plath invites us to consider the many different ways in which love can be experienced and understood. Whether we see love as a fleeting moment of connection or an enduring force that transcends time and space, this poem reminds us of the power and importance of love in our lives.

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