Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Carolyn Kizer’s "Love Song; For Ruthven Todd" is a tender and lyrical exploration of the ideal of falling in love effortlessly and naturally, likening it to the innocent and instinctual actions of nursing birds and children. Through her use of repetition and vivid imagery, Kizer conveys a sense of ease and comfort, highlighting the naturalness and purity of true love.

The poem begins with a longing: "O to fall easily, easily, easily in Love / As nursing birds tumble from the nest." The repetition of "easily" emphasizes the desired simplicity and naturalness of love, suggesting that it should come as effortlessly as a young bird learning to fly. The parenthetical aside "(not-pray-into the dog's jaws)" introduces a note of caution, contrasting the ideal with a potential danger, thus underscoring the vulnerability inherent in love.

Kizer then touches on the nature of true lovers: "True lovers of women tend to love / Not grossly, but in gross lots." This phrase implies that true love is abundant and wholehearted, without being crude or superficial. The reference to "gross lots" and the quotation from Webster's dictionary, "Without deduction for tare, tret or waste," adds a layer of humor and precision, indicating that love should be measured generously, valuing every aspect of the beloved.

The poem continues to explore the theme of ease in love: "O to fall in Love, easily, easily / As a mild child falls to, at the breast." This image of a child nursing at the breast evokes a sense of comfort, security, and natural bonding. The contrast with "not as an iron-jawed child clamps on" suggests that love should be gentle and unforced. The child "inhale[s] all sweet ambience, breezily / Exhale[s] flowered breath," capturing the seamless exchange of giving and receiving in a loving relationship.

Kizer emphasizes the comfort and rapture of love with the imagery of a child: "While rapturously curls the pillowed fist, / Toes clenched in comfort, / Each new taste the best." This image of a child in a state of blissful comfort reinforces the theme of love as a nurturing and satisfying experience, where each moment is savored and cherished.

The final stanza expands on the idea of finding and losing love: "O Love, easily, easily, easily to fall / As fledgling bird or child is lost (within a plot, not acres away)." The poem acknowledges that love involves moments of uncertainty and separation, but these are manageable and not overwhelming. The key is to "turn around, and find the haven / That has not moved at all," suggesting that true love provides a constant source of comfort and stability.

Kizer concludes with a vision of love as a source of peace and rest: "Learn lose-and-find without much cost, / Terror smoothed in feathered, ruffled bosom, / And easily, Love, easily to rest." The poem’s closing lines convey a sense of resolution and tranquility, emphasizing that love, when genuine and true, should ultimately bring a sense of ease and calm.

"Love Song; For Ruthven Todd" is a beautifully crafted meditation on the nature of love. Carolyn Kizer uses vivid and tender imagery to explore the idea that love should be as natural and effortless as the instincts of a nursing child or a fledgling bird. Through repetition and gentle contrasts, she captures the essence of love as a nurturing, abundant, and comforting force, inviting readers to reflect on the ease and joy of true affection.