I Love You
I love your lips when they’re wet with wine
And red with a wild desire;
I love your eyes when the lovelight lies
Lit with a passionate fire.
I love your arms when the warm white flesh
Touches mine in a fond embrace;
I love your hair when the strands enmesh
Your kisses against my face.Not for me the cold, calm kiss
Of a virgin’s bloodless love;
Not for me the saint’s white bliss,
Nor the heart of a spotless dove.
But give me the love that so freely gives
And laughs at the whole world’s blame,
With your body so young and warm in my arms,
It sets my poor heart aflame.So kiss me sweet with your warm wet mouth,
Still fragrant with ruby wine,
And say with a fervor born of the South
That your body and soul are mine.
Clasp me close in your warm young arms,
While the pale stars shine above,
And we’ll live our whole young lives away
In the joys of a living love.
Summary of I Love You
- Popularity: Ella Wheeler Wilcox, an acclaimed American poet, first published this poem in the nineteenth century. Its vivid depiction of sensual affection has made it beloved for generations.
- Representation of Love: The speaker celebrates a passionate, active love rather than a passive or pure one. She paints her longing with strong imagery and invites the same intensity from her partner.
- Major Themes: The poem centers on love, joy, and the fulfillment of desire. It portrays an intimate bond that brings happiness and a sense of belonging.
Analysis of Literary Devices in “I Love You”
ella wheeler wilcox skillfully employs several literary devices to deepen the emotional impact of her poem. Below is a detailed examination of these techniques.
- enjambment: The poem often continues a thought beyond the end of a line, creating fluidity and suspense. For example: “And say with a fervor born of the South
That your body and soul are mine.” This continuation invites readers to carry the rhythm into the next line. - consonance: Repeated consonant sounds add musical quality. In “And we’ll live our whole young lives away,” the repeated /l/ sound ties the lines together.
- assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds enhances mood. In “Of a virgin’s bloodless love,” the long /u/ in “bloodless” echoes the softness of the phrase.
- anaphora: Repeating the phrase “I love your…” at the start of several lines emphasizes the speaker’s devotion and creates rhythmic emphasis.
- alliteration: The repeated /w/ in “So kiss me sweet with your warm wet mouth” gives a gentle, melodic feel that mirrors the tenderness described.
- symbolism: Words such as “white” and “dove” carry symbolic meanings of purity and freedom. These symbols contrast with the passionate imagery to highlight the speaker’s preference for an active love.
- personification: The poem attributes human qualities to body parts, e.g., “lips … appear like humans with desire.” This personification makes the physical sensations feel alive and relatable.
- imagery: Vivid sensory details—wet wine on lips, warm flesh touching—engage all five senses. The reader can almost taste the wine, feel the warmth, and see the glowing eyes, making the poem immersive.
This literary analysis shows how Wilcox’s mastery of language creates a passionate, vivid portrayal of love that resonates with readers.
Analysis of Poetic Devices in “I Love You”
The poem also demonstrates classic poetic structures and rhythmic patterns.
- stanza Structure: The poem is divided into three stanzas, each containing eight lines that build upon one another to develop the theme of love.
- octave Form: Each stanza follows an octave—eight lines—providing a balanced and symmetrical form.
- rhyme scheme: The rhyme pattern for each octave is ABCBDEFE, creating subtle echoes that reinforce the emotional tone without overwhelming the reader.
- Iambic Pentameter: The poem largely follows iambic pentameter, a rhythmic pattern of five unstressed–stressed syllable pairs. For example: “I love your lips when they’re wet with wine.” This meter gives the poem a natural, flowing cadence.
Quotes to be Used
These lines capture the intensity and passion of the speaker’s affection:
“I love your lips when they’re wet with wine
And red with a wild desire;
I love your eyes when the lovelight lies
Lit with a passionate fire.”