Decade by Amy Lowell :: English Literature:

Decade by Amy LowellWhen you came, you were like ruby wine-coloured and honey,And the taste of you burnt my embouchure with its sweetness.Now you are like morning dirty money,Smooth and pleasant.I hardly taste you at all for I know your savour,But I am completely nourished.Amy Lowell produced the majority of her meters after her acquaintancewith the actress Ada Russell, a widow eleven years older than Lowell,with whom she shared 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 the eve Flowers etc. were written for Ada Russell.The poem Decade was written as a celebration of the ten-yearanniversary of Ada and Amys relationship. However, there is no sexual urgespecification of a lover so one could dedicate it to someone of theopposite sex. Simple in its form, rich in imagery and symbolism the poem depicts powerfully the deep emotional bond between two peopleafter 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, passionate 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 become 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 everyday nutrition. It is aninvaluable article of food and keeps us full and nourished. We need itevery day and a meal is incomplete without it. So, now the lover isessential to the others life. Life cannot exist without him. perchancethe passion and the burning sweetness have gone, but what remains is a