Law like Love

Stanza 1: “Law say the Gardeners, is the sun,…………………………. yesterday, to-day.

Reference to context:

The poem ‘Law like Love’ by W.H. Auden is from the anthology ‘Poetry of the Law- From
Caucer to Present’ edited by David Kader and Michael Stanford. Through the poem, poet wants
to convey the idea that Law – the term cannot be defined in finite words. He provides viewpoints
of gardener, scholar, old man etc. to substantiate his argument. He shows his inability to
articulate words for what law exactly is, by comparing law with something abstract i.e. Love.
Using simile, Auden draws parallel between law and love as both are dynamic, subjective and
limitless.

Explanation:

In this stanza, Auden explains law by the viewpoint of gardener. Using metaphor, poet says that
for gardener law is Sun. It plays major role in photosynthesis (food making process). The health
of plants and ultimately the wealth of gardener depend upon Sun. It acts like supreme
commander which is considered by all. Poet says that gardeners have to obey the sun as when to
sow seeds, water plants and provide them with nutrients. If they disobey then consequences will
be disastrous same as of law. Whether it is monsoon, spring or autumn gardeners have to follow
command of supreme to keep their plants greener.

Stanza 2: “Law is the wisdom of old………………………………………………senses of young”

Explanation:

In this stanza, poet explains the viewpoint of Old man and young ones regarding law. He says,
that for old person law is wisdom – what they learn from past. Axioms are formed, which apply
everywhere irrespective of context. He further explains that law can be traced in grandfather’s
voice. It acts like supreme command. For young ones, law is dynamic. It depend on their
emotions and surroundings. Here poet wants to bring contrast b/w law from young ones and old
man’s perspective. Young people believe law is not permanent. It changes with change in time.

Stanza 3: “Law, says the priest…………………………………………..Law is The Law”.

Explanation:

By this stanza poet conveys perspective of Priests and Judges regarding Law. According to
priest, law is something written in priestly books and applied to unpriestly people. For them Law
is their source of income. Sometimes priests use “their books” to achieve their selfish motives. It
implies that anything priests says becomes a law i.e. to be followed religiously.
Here come views of Judges. He provides ambiguous but eloquent answer. For Judges, Law is
something they communicate to people repeatedly via. judgements and which people know by
themselves. But again he tries to explain what Law is and thus says Law is The Law – acts,
judgements, rules etc.

Stanza 4: “Yet Law abiding…………………………………………………Good night”.

Explanation:

By this stanza Poet conveys views of Law-abiding scholars regarding law. They say that law is
neither right nor wrong as people say. But it is the criminals who are wrong. It usually happens
that people blame others instead of looking at their own faults. He further says that law is not
static, it changes with change in time and place. What is considered as crime at one place may
not be considered at other. Sometimes it is the “time” or fate of individual which is punishing,
may be, for no crime. Using metaphor, author compares Law with clothes. As clothes are
everywhere with different patterns, colors, effect etc. so the law is. For law-abiding citizens, it
becomes their life, from day to night these people love and respect law.

Stanza 5: “Others say,…………………………………………… Law has gone away”.

Explanation:

By not specifically pointing out somebody, poet says that there are people who accept law as
their ultimate faith. For them Law is government-by which people are ruled. But for others, law
exists no more. Here poet is trying to draw contrast by saying that for some Law becomes life
but for others, it remains no more.

Stanza 6: “And always………………………………………………….. idiot softly Me”.

Explanation:

In this stanza, W.H. Auden says what law is meant for crowd. They try to convince govt. and
other authorities for their demands. As a result, they believe that law is nobody else but We -the
mob itself. It shows the point that law is nothing but people.

Stanza 7: “If we, dear,………………………………………………………Like love I say”.

Explanation:

In this stanza, poet expresses his own thoughts regarding law. He presents harsh reality that the
more we know about law, it is actually lesser. Law is not just limited to acts, parliament, rules or
even we are going in wrong direction. Poet, being loyal, says that like others he cannot again
define what law is. He says that defining law into words is nothing but foolishness. Being
human, there is deep urge within poet to add to law something from his side thus compares law
with love.
Stanza 8: “Like love we don’t……………………………………………….seldom keep”.

Explanation:

In this stanza, poet using metaphoric language compares law with love. He says that like love
happens anywhere, at any point of time, without knowing the reason so the Law is. For human
beings law is something out of blue, no one knows when and where law can be applied on them.
And without knowing what “crime” one has committed. Love is abstract, human has no control
over it, neither one can hold it nor one can happy with it for long. It is dynamic like the law. He
further compares that like love brings emotional crisis to individuals, law also has the capability.
It can make and destroy the hard woven, beautiful world of individuals into few seconds. Poet
brings out similarity of Law and Love by stating that both are ephemeral. Both hardly lasts for
long time, they are subject to variables. No one can hold kaw and love for time immoral.

Stephen Dunn
Criminal
Summary

In this poem, Stephen Dunn tries to bring clarification on who exactly is criminal. He says that
one person being tagged by society as criminal may not be criminal at all. It could be the
possibility that he born in place of thieves or murders. Then it will be the fault of his fate,
upbringing and ambience. Or if he born in correct place, there might be circumstances, when law
itself was interpreted wrong and one wrongly targeted as criminal. According to poet, luck
definitely plays role to “determine” who is criminal. Dunn narrates various incidents where fate
helped the criminals to come out with clean hands. Like when evidences are burn by fire with
nature helping through sharp winds which turned witness into ashes. Car driver, who is drunk,
driving car in street where children are playing at high speed instead of low. Driver might have
trashed them but again fate helped, children become aware and left by few inches. Poet again
brings to the notice of readers that if car would have crushed them fate would come to rescue
him. In spite of evidences, frontline stories driver would be saved and enjoying a normal evening
at home. Here poet want all of us to introspect, that are we all responsible? At one or another
time we have to make choices and most are taken with self-interest. Actual criminals plan their
misdeed or even manipulate not only people but the evidences itself. Think and feel for a
moment, are we criminals? We, criminals are not limited to it but try to shift burden of our sins
to animals and expecting ourselves to head towards heaven. Should not we deserve some terrible
punishments for our misdeeds or is there any need to ask questions to ourselves? If one believes
in one life and one destiny, one might go wrong. There are several religious school of thoughts
which says that deeds of present life affects our next lives. That time no god, no goat or no good
will help to save us and we finally meet our destiny.