Ah, love! The most perplexing enigma since the invention of the cat—and we all know cats make terrible companions when it comes to understanding human relationships! Here we have Ted Hughes, a poet wrestling with the exquisite and sometimes grotesque tango of love, aptly titled “Love Song” and “Lovesong.”
First off, let’s talk about the imagery. Hughes doesn’t merely paint a pretty picture here; he throws a whole palette of raw emotion onto the canvas—it’s like he walked in on a couple in the throes of passion and just decided to narrate it with the same fervor as a dramatic nature documentary. “His kisses were armies occupying her,” he writes, which sounds suspiciously like my last attempt at romance—though I’d like to think my approach was a tad less militaristic!
And the language! It’s visceral and electric—“spider bites” and “daggers of vengeance?” Sounds more like a dramatic Netflix series than a sweet serenade. But Hughes brilliantly captures that push and pull, that undeniable force of attraction that can either elevate you to euphoric heights or plunge you into the depths of despair.
Now, let’s be honest; these metaphors aren’t exactly Hallmark card material. You won’t be finding “His whispers were whips and jackboots” on a romantic Valentine’s card any time soon—unless, of course, you’re shopping from a very specific novelty shop. One might think, “Hang on, is this love or a horror movie?” But isn’t that the beauty of human relationships? It’s a chaotic blend of the sublime and the ridiculous—much like watching your parents attempt to dance after two glasses of red wine.
And while we’re on the subject of dance! The intimacy captured in the lines about their intertwined sleep is both tender and unsettling. “In the morning, they wore each other’s face.” Oh, the classic metaphor for being in love! Alternatively, it could evoke an image of some bizarre body-swapping scenario, where instead of waking up to breakfast in bed, you find yourself flipping pancakes with your partner’s nose.
Hughes clearly doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of love: promises that lead to “the top off his skull” or “her vows put formalin in his eyes.” If love is a battlefield, Hughes sees it as the War of the Roses—with all the peace treaties leading to a bloodbath because, let’s face it, what’s a romance without a little drama?
And remember, folks, this isn’t just poetry; it’s a lot like life, where the highs come with the lows, where laughter and tears coalesce into a beautiful mess. We’ve all been there—at some point, we’ve made a “love knot” that quickly turned into a “Gordian knot,” getting tangled in our own mixed signals.
So, here’s to Ted Hughes! Thank you for reminding us that love is indeed a complex affair, from its euphoric highs to its dizzying lows. It’s that dance with joy and pain—you just crumple the tango and toss in a little cha-cha for good measure. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go perform a very serious dance with my own melodramatic feelings before my cat starts judging me again.
If you want to dive deeper into this heady blend of romance and chaos, check out the videos linked above. Just remember: love might not come with a manual, but it sure does have plenty of metaphors! Now, off you trot—there’s a world of poetry waiting to be explored!
SEE THE VIDEOS “Love Song” , “Lovesong” letta dal poeta , “Why are you so solemn?” , Homage to Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes (in English), part one , …and second part
Florence, 5 November 2019 – Reflecting on the poignant anniversary of Ted Hughes’ death, which took place in London on October 28, 1998.
Love song
He loved her and she loved him
From their passionate kisses, it seemed as though he attempted to absorb her entire past and future.
He had no other hunger but for her.
Their little screams fluttered in the tents.
Her eyes were fiercely protective, wanting nothing to escape.
He hugged her tightly, determined to hold onto that moment, allowing nothing to tear them apart.
He wanted to leap with her from the cusp of time into nothingness or eternity, whichever it was.
Their deep moans slithered over the floor like an animal ensnared in a trap.
His smiles transported them both to an enchanted palace, far removed from the mundane world.
Their heads separated in sleep like the two halves of a split melon, yet love proved hard to resist.
In their intertwined sleep, they exchanged warmth, arms, and legs, while dreaming of taking each other hostage in a world of their own design.
In the soft light of morning, they awoke to find they had each adopted features of the other.
Lovesong
He loved her and she loved him.
His kisses swallowed her past and future in longing attempts.
He had no other cravings outside of her.
She was intent on having him wholly within her, feeling secure and eternal.
He desired everything discordant to cease, willing to topple with her into the void or into something everlasting, whatever that may be.
Her embrace served as an enormous weight, etching him into her being, while his promises served as the surgeon’s gag, providing both comfort and torment.
Her laughter resembled the work of an assassin, making him feel both vulnerable and invigorated, while their deep cries echoed around them, like an animal trying to free itself from a cruel trap.
Their heads fell apart into sleep like the two halves of a lopped melon, but love always found a way to linger.
In their entwined slumber, they exchanged limbs as dreams held them, crafting a life beyond reality’s reach.
In the quiet moments of dawn, they wore the essence of one another on their faces.
Ted Hughes
(1970)
Follow us also on Facebook page of the Castelfiorentino Literary Prize
PREVIOUS POSTS ARCHIVE
**Interview with Poetry Enthusiast, Dr. Lucia Marini, on Ted Hughes’ Love Poems**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Dr. Marini! It’s so great to have you here to discuss the enigmatic world of Ted Hughes and his exploration of love through poetry. What do you make of Hughes’ portrayal of love in his poems “Love Song” and “Lovesong”?
**Dr. Marini:** Thank you for having me! Hughes’ portrayal of love is incredibly visceral and complex. He captures the raw energy and sometimes tumultuous nature of human relationships. The imagery he uses is striking—kisses equated to armies and whispers as instruments of coercion. It’s an intense way to convey how love can be both nurturing and overwhelming.
**Interviewer:** Absolutely! You mentioned the imagery—let’s delve deeper. How do you think this intense language impacts a reader’s understanding of love?
**Dr. Marini:** Well, Hughes challenges traditional romantic notions. By juxtaposing tenderness with elements that evoke violence or chaos—like “spider bites” and “daggers of vengeance”—he reflects the struggle within love itself. This duality helps readers appreciate that love can be as much about conflict and turmoil as it is about passion and connection. It’s a whirlwind of emotions, which many can relate to personally.
**Interviewer:** That’s a fascinating insight. The metaphor of intertwined sleep—“In the morning, they wore each other’s face”—is particularly striking. How do you interpret this?
**Dr. Marini:** This line encapsulates intimacy, yet it evokes a sense of disquiet too. It’s almost like a body-swapping scenario; in love, we so deeply influence each other, we share parts of ourselves to the point where it’s hard to distinguish one from the other. Hughes captures that beautiful yet perplexing entanglement of identities that love often brings about.
**Interviewer:** And yet, there’s a darker side in his poems, too. Why do you think Hughes emphasizes this aspect of love, including the phrases like “promises that lead to the top off his skull”?
**Dr. Marini:** That line illustrates the potential for love to lead to psychological distress. Hughes brilliantly acknowledges that love is not always delightful—it can be a source of pain, disillusionment, and even loss of self. By emphasizing these darker elements, he encourages readers to confront the full spectrum of love, rather than just the romanticized version often portrayed in popular culture.
**Interviewer:** What would you say is the overarching message in Hughes’ take on love?
**Dr. Marini:** Ultimately, Hughes presents love as a complex dance—sometimes chaotic, sometimes harmonious. He wants us to recognize that love encompasses all extremes, from joy to heartbreak. It reminds us that human connections, much like poetry, are layered and multifaceted. In that chaos, there’s beauty, and that’s something truly worth exploring.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Marini! Your insights illuminate the intricate tapestry of love in Hughes’ work. For those interested in exploring this further, don’t forget to check out the videos linked above. Until next time, keep dancing with those emotions!
