To be in love by Gwendolyn Brooks and I Need to be in Love by the Carpenters - Essay Example

 Poem and Song Essay “To be in love” by Gwendolyn Brooks and “I Need to be in Love” by the Carpenters both deal with the subject of being in love. Love is a universal feeling and strong emotion that is experienced by different people from all walks of life. To comply with the requirements of the essay, the comparative analysis between the identified poem and song would be tackled in terms of determining how each author treats the subject. The discourse would consider how the poem and song’s form, the use of different literary elements such as use of visual illustrations, analogies, and the metaphorical language of the piece creates the intended meaning. Likewise, the paper would also identify how each artist use these elements to create a unique point of view. The objective of the paper therefore is to explore the similarities and differences of how the message of love was expressed in the poem and in the song, in terms of using figurative phrases, metaphorical language and styles that give different effects to the readers. The comparative details would be presented by noting crucial elements such as form, use of imagery, metaphorical language and intended meaning. Both the poem and the song focus on love as their major theme. The poem, being written by a female, took the point of view of a loved one being left by her lover in the end. The poet used figurative and metaphorical language to express the feelings of elation and pain through the experience. She started by indicating initially that ‘To be in love Is to touch with a lighter hand…you are well’ which conveyed the feeling that everything is alright when love is present. Eventually Brooks effectively used the words ‘When he Shuts a door-‘ to abruptly indicate the end of love and the beginning of pain through stating ‘You are the beautiful half Of a golden hurt’. On the other hand, the song, although sung by Karen Carpenter, a female, was written by males, likewise took the same perspective of having loved and lost the special someone in the end. However, the song was more melancholic in tone as it started by indicating that ‘The hardest thing I’ve ever done is keep believing; there’s someone in this crazy world for me’. The composers set a more remorseful emotion associated with not having any love at all and trying to convince oneself that there is still that special someone who could possibly declare love in due time. The language and words used were simpler and more direct. The implication therefore is that regardless of the difference in literary form and figurative language used: that of a poem or a song, the message of experiencing love and the pain from losing it is universal. The poem used different analogies through writing profound statements such as the ‘Column of Gold’ which could mean differently to people depending on their orientations. One could interpret the phrase as seeing love as a solid and strong foundation or others could understand love as too valuable like gold. Brooks also used ‘commonest ash’ which can be easily understood as contrasted to ‘arms are water’ where an intended message could not be understood through literal interpretation. On the other hand, the song used very straightforward words and language that touches one’s heart through sincere words like ‘people coming and go through temporary lives’ – indicating the fleeting nature of love; and the words ‘I’m wide awake at four a.m. without a friend in sight; hanging on a hope but I’m alright’ – which expressed the agony of being alone but still believes that life goes on. The listeners could immediately be moved by the lyrics used and accompanied by the melody of the song. This is where the song could have more advantage than poems in terms of providing the melody and the singer’s rendition to enhance the writers’ message. The poem relies solely on the selection of words used, the vivid language, the clarity of analogies to determine if the readers are able to capture the intended meaning being relayed by the author. Each artist therefore used different imagery and metaphorical language on the same theme or topic of to be loved and losing that special one in the end. Brooks understandably need to use more figurative words and analogies to enhance her poetic form and style because the effectiveness in poetry comes in terms of using the appropriate words and language to relay the exact image intended for the audience. For example, in the first part of her poem, she expressed wellness and everything about their love is wonderful making her observe the world around in vivid colors: ‘a cardinal is red, a sky is blue’. And then, when one’s loved one suddenly leaves, the feeling of loneliness and pain was expressed through indicating that: “When he Shuts a door- Is not there_ Your arms are water. And you are free With a ghastly freedom.” The abstract words used (arms of water) signify that love cannot be contained or restrained just like water that flows naturally. The reader is made aware that by being reverted to being alone, one feels extreme loneliness. By the words - You are the beautiful half Of a golden hurt” (Brooks, 1), the author focuses on the pain caused by a loved one leaving you behind. The feature of beauty is therefore insignificant and the pain and the feelings of hurt are magnified in the process. Finally, to have love finally lost was actually compared to certain death to acknowledge something previously wonderful turning eventually to commonest ash. The metaphorical language in the poem was replete with figurative words: hand to take your hand is overmuch’; ‘He is not there but you know you are tasting together’; which relays the longing and the bond that has been formed by lovers. On the contrary, the song used some figurative words such as ‘Freedom only helps you say goodbye’ which signifies that by acknowledging everyone’s right to being free, one accepts the fact that one could not restrain and control love. On the other hand, the words ‘I asked perfection of a quite imperfect world’’; indicating that one could not simply expect things to work according to one’s plans since the truth is that nothing or no one is perfect. These words and phrases from the song clearly reveal the loneliness and feeling of despair experienced by someone who has loved and lost the person one loves in the end. The intended meaning in the poem is that to be in love is to prepare oneself to be exposed to mixed emotions: from being well to pain from parting and being hurt. These extreme emotions are contributory to making love an unforgettable experience. For the song, the intended message was expecting love to be perfect could take much of one’s time. The listeners are pacified as they are reminded that by understanding that love is fleeting, temporary, could not be restrained or controlled, and not at all perfect, makes one all right at fine at one point and sentimental, remorseful and in agony as conveyed both in the poem and in the song through the imagery and metaphorical language, the readers are reminded that it is alright to have love and lose it in the end, rather than not to have experienced being in love at all. Works Cited Brooks, Gwendolyn. “To be in love.” Poem Hunter.com. 01 January 2004. Web. 11 October 2011. < http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-be-in-love/> Carpenter, Richard; Bettis, John; and Hammond, Albert. “I Need to be In Love”. MetroLyrics. N.d. Web. 11 October 2011. < http://www.metrolyrics.com/i-need-to-be-in-love-lyrics-the-carpenters.html> Read More