Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"I carry your heart with me" is a love poem by E.E. Cummings that was published in his collection of poems titled "95 Poems" in 1958.

Explanation:

The poem is a declaration of love from the speaker to his beloved. He tells her that he carries her heart with him wherever he goes, and that it is intimately entwined with his own heart. The speaker uses vivid and powerful imagery to describe the depth and intensity of his love, and he emphasizes the unity and connection between him and his beloved.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: Free verse poem
• Theme: Love, connection, unity
• Imagery: The speaker uses vivid and powerful imagery to describe the depth and intensity of his love. He uses images of nature, such as "the moon" and "the sun", to emphasize the vastness and universality of his love.
• Tone: The tone of the poem is passionate and romantic.
• Sound: The poem has a musical quality, with the repetition of the phrase "I carry your heart with me" creating a rhythmic pattern.
• Language: The language is simple and direct, with the repetition of the phrase "I carry your heart with me" conveying the central message of the poem.
• Figurative language: The speaker uses metaphor to describe the unity and connection between him and his beloved. He compares their hearts to a single flower, emphasizing their interconnectedness.
• Structure: The poem is structured as a series of declarative statements, with each line beginning with the phrase "I carry your heart with me."
• Symbolism: The heart is a powerful symbol of love and connection, and the repeated phrase "I carry your heart with me" emphasizes the importance and intimacy of this connection.
• Emotion: The poem conveys a deep sense of love and connection between the speaker and his beloved.

Conclusion:

"I carry your heart with me" is a powerful love poem that emphasizes the unity and connection between two people in love. Through its vivid imagery, musical language, and simple yet powerful structure, the poem conveys a deep sense of passion and intimacy.

Poem Snippet:

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;

which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)