8491474
Love's Philosophy
- 1) "The fountains mingle with the
river And the rivers with the
ocean, The winds of heaven mix
for ever With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single; All
things by a law divine In one spirit
meet and mingle. Why not I with
thine?—"
- The speaker begins his explanation of the philosophy of love by describing different parts of
nature. He talks about “the fountains” and the way they “mingle with the river”. He then
mentions the rivers, and how they meet with the ocean. These all symbolize people and
imply that people are meant to mingle with one another. The speaker then says that “the
winds of heaven mix forever with a sweet emotion”. With this description, the speaker
suggests that the physical and the emotional are connected in some way. He calls it “a
divine law” that “all things” would be “in one spirit” and eventually would “meet and
mingle”. This symbolizes humanity, and the speaker’s belief that human beings were meant
to mingle with one another both physically and emotionally. The use of the phrase “in one
spirit” implies that idea that human beings are meant to connect with one another
spiritually as well. With the last line of this stanza, the speaker asks his hearer, “Why not I
with thine?”
- This question reveals that the speaker’s desire for love is not yet satisfied. The
question implies his belief that it would only be natural for he and his lover to unite, body, soul, and
mind. He believes that it would be every bit as natural as the river mingling with the sea, for he and
the one he loves to be one. The tone of the question, however, implies that this love is either
unrequited, or he is far away from the one he loves, or he is posing the question to his would be
lover for the very first time.
- This question reveals that the speaker’s desire for love is not yet satisfied. The
question implies his belief that it would only be natural for he and his lover to unite, body, soul, and
mind. He believes that it would be every bit as natural as the river mingling with the sea, for he and
the one he loves to be one. The tone of the question, however, implies that this love is either
unrequited, or he is far away from the one he loves, or he is posing the question to his would be
lover for the very first time.
- The speaker begins his explanation of the philosophy of love by describing different parts of
nature. He talks about “the fountains” and the way they “mingle with the river”. He then
mentions the rivers, and how they meet with the ocean. These all symbolize people and
imply that people are meant to mingle with one another. The speaker then says that “the
winds of heaven mix forever with a sweet emotion”. With this description, the speaker
suggests that the physical and the emotional are connected in some way. He calls it “a
divine law” that “all things” would be “in one spirit” and eventually would “meet and
mingle”. This symbolizes humanity, and the speaker’s belief that human beings were meant
to mingle with one another both physically and emotionally. The use of the phrase “in one
spirit” implies that idea that human beings are meant to connect with one another
spiritually as well. With the last line of this stanza, the speaker asks his hearer, “Why not I
with thine?”
- 2) "See the mountains kiss high heaven And the waves clasp
one another; No sister-flower would be forgiven If it
disdained its brother; And the sunlight clasps the earth
And the moonbeams kiss the sea: What is all this sweet
work worth If thou kiss not me?"
- The speaker begins, again, to describe the ways in which
different parts of nature interact and depend upon one
another. He says that “the mountains kiss high heaven”
and that “the waves clasp one another”. It is clear that he
longs to have a physical relationship with the person he
loves. His descriptions of the physical interactions
between parts of nature imply his belief that physical
interaction between two people is natural. He
communicates to his lover that it feels unnatural to be
kept away from her. The speaker then uses flowers to
further describe his feelings about his unsatisfied
feelings.
- He describes a “sister flower” and claims that it would not “be forgiven” if it were to deny “its
brother”. This description causes the readers to lean toward the idea of this poem being about
unrequited love. The word “disdained” seems to imply that the one to whom he speaks remains
separate from him by her own choice. To the speaker, this seems unnatural because he longs for her
love strongly. He continues to describe the physical relationships between parts of nature when he
claims that “the sunlight clasps the earth”. This imagery allows the reader to understand the depth
of the speaker’s feelings. He feels as though to clasp the one he loves in his arms would be as natural
as it is for the rays of the sun to grasp the earth. He describes the way “the moonbeams kiss the sea,”
further expressing his physical desire for the one to whom he speaks.
- The continuous personification of nature, and the words used to describe the relationships therein
give insight into the intensity of the speaker’s feelings. Words such as “mingle,” “clasp,” and “kiss” all
reveal the physical nature of the speaker’s desire. However, phrases such as “sweet emotion” and “in
one spirit,” imply that his desires are deeper than the physical. He longs to be united with the one he
loves spiritually and emotionally as well as physically.
- The speaker ends the poem with a question similar to the one he asked at the end of the first stanza.
He asks, “What is all this sweet work worth if thou kiss not me?” This is a heavy question. He reveals
his feelings that nothing he has observed in life or nature hold any value to him if he is not to be
united with the person he loves. This final line intensifies the tone of the rest of the poem because it
implies not only the speaker’s intense desire for the one he loves, but also his lack of interest in
living life apart from her. This allows the reader to understand the depths of his love. It is interesting,
however, that the speaker has already implied that the one he loves feels disdain for him.
- Thus, it is ironic that he can claim that love between the two of them would be as natural as the
meeting of the river and the ocean when it is clear that the one he loves does not share his feelings.
To her, it might feel very unnatural to be united with him whether physically, spiritually, or
emotionally. The speaker does not seem to offer much insight into the feelings or thoughts of the
one he loves other than a subtle implication that she feels disdain for him. Thus, the reader can
gather that although he feels strongly for her, he does not understand her feelings nor take them
into consideration when he claims that it is unnatural for them to be apart, but natural for them to
be together.
- This gives the readers the idea that although his love is intense, it is quite possibly immature. He may
feel a deep longing for this woman, but he has not been able to identify with her feelings and honor
her feelings. If he had, he may have been able to let go of her. As it is, the poem reveals an inability
to let go of her, and a persistence in obtaining her despite her feelings toward him. All of these
factors can lead the reader to believe that this poem is one written about the classic feeling of
unrequited love.
- This gives the readers the idea that although his love is intense, it is quite possibly immature. He may
feel a deep longing for this woman, but he has not been able to identify with her feelings and honor
her feelings. If he had, he may have been able to let go of her. As it is, the poem reveals an inability
to let go of her, and a persistence in obtaining her despite her feelings toward him. All of these
factors can lead the reader to believe that this poem is one written about the classic feeling of
unrequited love.
- Thus, it is ironic that he can claim that love between the two of them would be as natural as the
meeting of the river and the ocean when it is clear that the one he loves does not share his feelings.
To her, it might feel very unnatural to be united with him whether physically, spiritually, or
emotionally. The speaker does not seem to offer much insight into the feelings or thoughts of the
one he loves other than a subtle implication that she feels disdain for him. Thus, the reader can
gather that although he feels strongly for her, he does not understand her feelings nor take them
into consideration when he claims that it is unnatural for them to be apart, but natural for them to
be together.
- The speaker ends the poem with a question similar to the one he asked at the end of the first stanza.
He asks, “What is all this sweet work worth if thou kiss not me?” This is a heavy question. He reveals
his feelings that nothing he has observed in life or nature hold any value to him if he is not to be
united with the person he loves. This final line intensifies the tone of the rest of the poem because it
implies not only the speaker’s intense desire for the one he loves, but also his lack of interest in
living life apart from her. This allows the reader to understand the depths of his love. It is interesting,
however, that the speaker has already implied that the one he loves feels disdain for him.
- The continuous personification of nature, and the words used to describe the relationships therein
give insight into the intensity of the speaker’s feelings. Words such as “mingle,” “clasp,” and “kiss” all
reveal the physical nature of the speaker’s desire. However, phrases such as “sweet emotion” and “in
one spirit,” imply that his desires are deeper than the physical. He longs to be united with the one he
loves spiritually and emotionally as well as physically.
- He describes a “sister flower” and claims that it would not “be forgiven” if it were to deny “its
brother”. This description causes the readers to lean toward the idea of this poem being about
unrequited love. The word “disdained” seems to imply that the one to whom he speaks remains
separate from him by her own choice. To the speaker, this seems unnatural because he longs for her
love strongly. He continues to describe the physical relationships between parts of nature when he
claims that “the sunlight clasps the earth”. This imagery allows the reader to understand the depth
of the speaker’s feelings. He feels as though to clasp the one he loves in his arms would be as natural
as it is for the rays of the sun to grasp the earth. He describes the way “the moonbeams kiss the sea,”
further expressing his physical desire for the one to whom he speaks.
- The speaker begins, again, to describe the ways in which
different parts of nature interact and depend upon one
another. He says that “the mountains kiss high heaven”
and that “the waves clasp one another”. It is clear that he
longs to have a physical relationship with the person he
loves. His descriptions of the physical interactions
between parts of nature imply his belief that physical
interaction between two people is natural. He
communicates to his lover that it feels unnatural to be
kept away from her. The speaker then uses flowers to
further describe his feelings about his unsatisfied
feelings.
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