Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

James Merrill's poem "Suspense of Love" explores the delicate balance and profound depth that characterize a mature, enduring love. Through rich, metaphorical language, Merrill examines the complex interplay between light and darkness, stillness and movement, and the tangible and intangible elements that define intimate relationships. The poem portrays love as both a tangible presence and a subtle, almost mystical force, suspended between moments of clarity and mystery.

The poem begins with the notion that "light restores / The postures of our loving," suggesting that love is something illuminated, brought into focus by the presence of light—both literal and metaphorical. This light reveals the "postures" or forms that love takes, perhaps referring to the different roles and expressions within a relationship. The reference to a "ceremonial noon" implies a moment of heightened awareness, where time and experience converge, allowing the lovers to pause and reflect on their shared journey. The "reckoning" at noon could symbolize a moment of truth or realization, where the lovers take stock of their relationship, weighing the joys and challenges they have faced together.

As the poem progresses, the "reckless songs" of love—those impassioned, spontaneous expressions—subside, giving way to a more profound quietness. This quietness is described as "like dark light through glass / Distinctly seen," an evocative image that captures the paradoxical nature of love: both clear and mysterious, transparent yet complex. The lovers have "fared well" because they understand that "remembrance is a ritual." This line suggests that memory and reflection are essential components of love, helping to sustain and deepen the connection between two people over time.

Merrill then introduces the idea of the "candle and the mirrored flame," which symbolize the relationship between the lovers and their reflections of each other. The air between them "preserves a staunch relationship," emphasizing the importance of the space, the distance that allows love to breathe and endure. The poem acknowledges that "the will is unpredictable," highlighting the uncertainty inherent in any relationship, yet also celebrates love as "a pearl that grows in rhythms," suggesting that love, like a pearl, is formed slowly over time, shaped by both external forces and internal rhythms that are "more personal than dreams."

The pearl, passed "between us, back and forth," represents the mutual exchange of love, trust, and intimacy in the relationship. The lovers "doubt till it is bitten," indicating that love's true value is often realized only when tested. This realization leads to an understanding of "the fine extravagance of being two," where the cost of love—its risks and sacrifices—is acknowledged and cherished.

Merrill delves deeper into the nature of love, suggesting that its "secret" lies not directly "upon" the lovers' faces, but "between" them, in the intangible space that connects them. This space is where "intricate disguise" resides, implying that love often involves layers of complexity and hidden depths. Yet, it is within this space—"between lip, look and its twin"—that the true essence of love is found, where "landscapes hang like flowers in a net" or "stars in a lucky night." These images convey a sense of beauty, fragility, and interconnectedness, as the lovers' shared experiences and memories are suspended in the delicate balance of their relationship.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the enduring nature of love. The "net" that holds their love is "drawn taut" by their shared quietness, symbolizing the strength and tension that sustain their bond. This net, no longer "wielded in eagerness," now "holds rich action with our memories," suggesting that love, over time, becomes less about immediate gratification and more about the deep, resonant connection that has been cultivated through shared experiences.

Merrill likens this process to a "trellis" that "may have moved through time," eventually becoming "overcome" with morning-glories. This final image beautifully encapsulates the idea that love, like a trellis, supports and shapes the growth of something delicate and beautiful over time. The morning-glories, which have grown and flourished on the trellis, represent the cumulative experiences, memories, and emotions that have blossomed within the framework of the relationship.

In "Suspense of Love," Merrill masterfully captures the nuanced, intricate nature of a long-term relationship, where love is both a constant presence and a dynamic force, shaped by time, memory, and the shared journey of two individuals. The poem's rich imagery and reflective tone invite readers to consider the quiet, enduring aspects of love, the ways in which it is sustained and nurtured, and the profound beauty that emerges from its complexities.

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