The grammar turned and attacked me.
I wonder what the true meaning of this sentence is. I hypothesize that Adrienne, by writing that she misses her lover, starts missing her more. By putting words on paper, she comes to the realization that her lover is not there with her, and reality hits her. Nonetheless, this is just what I think!
Our two souls therefore, which are one, Though I must go, endure not yet A breach, but an expansion, Like gold to airy thinness beat.
Here, John states that their love is so great that enduring the time apart should not be a feat. To him the separation is almost null, as he and his lover are so tightly bound that even distance is inexistent in the face of their love. Just like gold, it can be hammered and made thin to cover a larger surface area.
So let us melt, and make no noise, No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move; 'Twere profanation of our joys To tell the laity our love.
I believe that John here writes this towards his lover. He says that although they are parting, they should 'not make a big fuss about it". He wants to keep these feelings private, as if they were to come out the public, it would not be well received. I also did some research on John. He lived in the late 1950's in England, during a time were gay relationships were not necessarily accepted. This background knowledge makes the text easier to understand.
We are, I am, you areby cowardice or couragethe one who find our wayback to this scenecarrying a knife, a cameraa book of mythsin whichour names do not appear.
Here Adrienne goes back to the way she started the poem, bringing back the items she had once mentioned. She brings together all those who have made the journey. They remain explorers, adventurers, hoping to one day write a book in which their names do appear. "Head held high" mentality.
the drowned face always staringtoward the sunthe evidence of damageworn by salt and sway into this threadbare beauty
I really liked this section of the poem. I believe it is symbolism for women, as they always have hopes ("staring toward the sun") on someday reversing the roles, leveling the playing field. Nonetheless, they are drowned. They are worn away by the damage caused by the patriarchal system, and by the undermining of women. However, they still shine, still look up to the sun, and there is a beauty to that.
the ladies neither notice nor reject the slighter pleasures of their slavery.
Amazing section of the poem. Often times we are subject to oppression and we do not even know. It takes me back to a famous quote that states: "knowledge is power". The more you know, the better decision you can take to better yourself and those who surround you. Oppression, slavery and discrimination has been like this for many years, as many are too blind to see the reality of the situation.
Nedicks
I actually had no clue what this was, so I searched it up: "Nedick's was an American chain of fast-food restaurants that originated in New York City in 1913." I believe this little detail gives a larger context on the time the poem was written