tPoem summary: a physical description of the body parts of the woman the speaker loves.
Speaker is overwhelmed by love
and underscored the power that the subject holds over him – woman is the stronger character in the relationship
“thy
Thy forehead is a flight of
flowers/thy head is a quick
forest/filled with sleeping
birds”
“thy hair upon thy shoulders is
an army/with victory and with
trumpets”
“thy wrists are holy… bells
comprehended through
incense”
“thy breasts are swarms of white
bees
“thy” – second person pronoun addressed speaker directly
“thy” instead of your, old English, setting of time where chivalry, questing and
romantic love – speaker’s endearment for the subject
Speaker lists out every part of the subject’s body – conveys his admiration for her, thus
paying tribute to her overwhelming beuty
Metaphor rather than similar – resolute unquestioning tone – undying love for the
subject
Fricative alliteration – flitting sounds of birds flying, leaves rusting in the wind,
conjuring liveliness and vivid imagery
Comparison to flower, which is a symbol for beauty
Speaker places subject on a pedestal through use of metaphor
likens hair to kingdom and head to warrior
Allusion to war connotes power and sovereignty – victorious leader returning from
battle evokes images of subjects bowing down to a ruler
Speaker submits to girl
Allusion to religion from diction “holy”
Likens subject’s body to a place of worship--> deep admiration and portrayal as
godlike , Chime “bells” alludes to church
How alluring she is: looking into her eyes = spiritual and religious experience
Symbol, olfactory and visual imagery of incense – foggy image, refers to mystery as
emphasised by “dilemma and betrayal” – sense of danger and uncertainty since love
can be treacherous
Bees – lethal, matriarchal power
Caution to readers to be wary of the woman’s sting (alluding to the tale of cupid-
blindness of love since he stung himself after dipping into honey”
White – pure, deceptively innocent