Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

The poem begins with a declaration of love, not calm or serene, but rather experienced "in a fever," suggesting an intense, almost uncontrollable emotion. The imagery of holding onto the tail of a horse implies a struggle or effort to maintain connection and control amidst powerful forces. This metaphor speaks to the nature of passionate love as wild and untamable, something that cannot be easily held or contained.

Bly's use of the phrase "I overflowed whenever I reached out to touch you" further illustrates the overwhelming nature of this love. The imagery of overflowing suggests an abundance of emotion, so intense that it cannot be contained within the self. It's a love that seeks expression, reaching out to touch the beloved, yet the touch is not simple or gentle. Instead, it is described as moving over the body "covered with its dress, burning, rough, an animal's foot or hand moving over leaves." This description evokes a sense of primal, raw emotion, likening the lover's touch to that of an animal, instinctive and unrefined, moving with urgency and desire.

The transition to the natural imagery of a rainstorm retiring and clouds opening to reveal sunlight sliding over ocean water a thousand miles from land serves as a metaphor for the tumultuous nature of love and the eventual peace or clarity that can emerge from emotional tempests. The vastness of the ocean and the distance from land underscore the isolation and intensity of the emotional experience, suggesting that love, in its most fervent forms, can feel like a journey through a vast, uncharted territory.

Bly masterfully intertwines the personal and the elemental, drawing parallels between the tumult of a storm and the turmoil of love, between the burning desire of a lover's touch and the serene beauty of sunlight on water. The poem captures the duality of passionate love—the fiery intensity and the potential for calm and clarity that follows the storm. It suggests that love, in all its complexity, involves both struggle and surrender, both the tempestuous and the tranquil.

"At MidOcean" ultimately speaks to the transformative power of love, its ability to both unsettle and soothe, to overwhelm and to enlighten. Through its rich imagery and emotional depth, the poem invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of love, the wildness of desire, and the serene beauty that can be found in the depths of emotional connection.

POEM TEXT: https://thebookbindersdaughter.com/2022/12/06/all-day-i-loved-you-in-a-fever-the-poetry-of-robert-bly/

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