Decade by Amy Lowell :: English Literature:

Decade by Amy LowellWhen you came, you were desire red booze and honey,And the judgement of you burnt my mouth with its sweetness.Now you are like morning popsicle, flavourless and pleasant.I hardly taste you at all for I inhabit your savour,But I am completely nourished.Amy Lowell produced the majority of her poetrys after her casualnesswith the actress Ada Russell, a widow eleven years older than Lowell,with whom she dual-lane the last thirteen years of her life. Russellbecame Lowells beloved companion, secretary, and nurturing muse. Theylived together in a Boston marriage until Lowells death and many ofLowells most poignant love poems, including Opal, Madonna of theEvening Flowers etc. were write for Ada Russell.The poem Decade was written as a exultation of the ten-yearanniversary of Ada and Amys relationship. However, there is no gender specification of a lover so one could dedicate it to someone of the arctic sex. Simple in its form, rich in imagery and symbolism thepo em depicts powerfully the deep emotional bond between two muckleafter ten years of relationship.At the beginning of the relationship, the beloved was like red wineand honey, and his taste burnt with its sweetness. The red winesymbolizes the passion felt in the beginning. Red is a color thatdenotes something sudden, rabid and strong and wine isintoxicant, making someone dizzy with its sweetness and alcohol. Thered wine alludes to the forcefulness and passion of love.Gradually, the sweet red wine has induce like morning bread, smoothand pleasant. The taste of the bread is familiar and the poetesshardly tastes it. Nevertheless, she is completely nourished. Morningbread is something vital for our prevalent nutrition. It is aninvaluable article of food and keeps us full and nourished. We need it either day and a meal is incomplete without it. So, now the lover is meaty to the others life. Life cannot exist without him. Perhapsthe passion and the animated sweetness have gone, but wha t remains is a