I am in love, hence free to live BY VERA PAVLOVA

 I am in love, hence free to live By Vera Pavlova

I am in love, hence free to live

by heart, to ad lib as I caress.

A soul is light when full,

heavy when vacuous.

My soul is light. She is not afraid

to dance the agony alone,

for I was born wearing your shirt,

will come from the dead with that shirt on.

Introduction:

The poem presented is a poignant and introspective exploration of love, identity, and the inextricable connection between the self and the beloved. Written in a concise yet powerful style, the poem invites readers to contemplate the profound influence that love can have on the human experience, shaping our perceptions, our actions, and our very sense of being.

From the opening lines, the speaker establishes a tone of freedom and liberation, declaring their love as a catalyst for embracing life fully and without constraint. This sense of emancipation is juxtaposed with the metaphysical concept of the soul, suggesting that love's transformative power extends beyond the physical realm and into the depths of our spiritual essence.

Through vivid imagery and symbolism, the poem weaves a tapestry of interconnected themes, exploring the duality of lightness and heaviness, the notion of individuality within the context of a shared identity, and the enduring presence of the beloved, even in the face of mortality.

Themes:

1. Love and Freedom: 

A central theme of the poem is the idea that love grants a sense of liberation and empowers the individual to live authentically and without fear. The speaker declares, "I am in love, hence free to live by heart, to ad lib as I caress," suggesting that love liberates them from societal constraints and allows them to embrace life on their own terms.

2. The Duality of the Soul: 

The poem explores the concept of the soul's duality, contrasting its lightness when "full" with its heaviness when "vacuous." This metaphorical representation of the soul's state suggests that love has the power to imbue the soul with a sense of fulfillment and weightlessness, while the absence of love can leave the soul feeling empty and burdened.

3. Individuality and Shared Identity: 

The poem grapples with the complex interplay between individuality and shared identity within the context of a loving relationship. The speaker declares, "I was born wearing your shirt," suggesting a profound and intrinsic connection with the beloved, a merging of identities that transcends the boundaries of the self.

4. Love's Endurance:

 Throughout the poem, there is a recurring sense of love's enduring nature, its ability to persist beyond the limitations of physical existence. The speaker's assertion that they "will come from the dead with that shirt on" implies that their connection with the beloved is so profound that it will transcend even the finality of death.

Motifs:

1. The Soul:

 The concept of the soul is a central motif in the poem, serving as a metaphorical representation of the speaker's emotional and spiritual state. The descriptions of the soul's lightness and heaviness, its fullness and emptiness, reflect the profound impact that love has on the speaker's inner being.

2. Clothing and Identity: 

The imagery of clothing, specifically the "shirt" worn by the beloved, is a recurring motif that symbolizes the intertwining of identities within the context of love. The speaker's declaration of being "born wearing your shirt" and the vow to "come from the dead with that shirt on" suggest a deep and inextricable connection between the self and the beloved.

Symbols:

1. The Shirt: 

The shirt serves as a potent symbol within the poem, representing the merging of identities between the speaker and the beloved. Its presence at birth and its endurance beyond death suggest a bond that transcends the boundaries of physical existence, a shared identity that persists throughout the journey of life and beyond.

2. Lightness and Heaviness:

 The contrasting descriptions of lightness and heaviness are symbolic representations of the soul's state. Lightness symbolizes the fulfillment and freedom that love brings, while heaviness symbolizes the emptiness and burden experienced in the absence of love.

3. Dance: 

The reference to the soul's ability to "dance the agony alone" is a symbolic representation of the speaker's resilience and strength in the face of adversity. It suggests that love imbues the soul with the courage and fortitude to withstand life's challenges, even in moments of solitude and suffering.

Conclusion:

The poem you have presented is a profound and emotionally charged exploration of love's transformative power and its enduring impact on the human experience. Through a concise yet richly layered tapestry of imagery, metaphor, and symbolism, the poet invites readers to contemplate the depths of love's influence on the self, the soul, and the very essence of our being.

Ultimately, the poem stands as a poignant and profound meditation on the enduring nature of love, its capacity to shape our perceptions, our identities, and our very existence. Through its evocative imagery, its exploration of complex themes, and its masterful use of symbolism, the poem invites readers to contemplate the depths of love's influence, to embrace its liberating power, and to recognize the transcendent bond it forges between individuals, a bond that transcends the boundaries of the self and persists beyond the limitations of physical existence.