Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Prayer" by Richard Aldington is an intensely personal and passionate plea to a divine figure, expressing the speaker's profound love for another person and their desire for life to continue this love. The poem is characterized by its deep emotional intensity and vivid imagery, reflecting Aldington's ability to capture the fervor of human emotions.

The poem opens with an invocation to the "Lord and father of life, / Of death and of bitter weeping," acknowledging the deity's power over life and death. This address sets the tone for a solemn and earnest appeal.

The speaker's prayer is described as "beating / Like rain importunately, without intermission," suggesting both its persistent nature and the desperation behind it. The speaker pleads for life, specifically "for a little life," emphasizing a request for additional time rather than immortality.

The speaker boldly asserts that no divine love or understanding could match their own love for another person: "No God, no nation, no cause, / No life of any man, no person, / Nothing created or living, / Do I love as I love her." This declaration places their love above all else, highlighting its depth and exclusivity.

The speaker clarifies that they do not seek to possess or control their beloved ("I do not ask you for her") but rather asks for time ("I ask life, a few years / To pour out for her"). The desire is to continue loving and being with the beloved, cherishing their presence and the joy it brings.

Aldington uses sensuous and vivid imagery to describe the beloved: "Her body is honey and wheat, / The taste of her mouth delicate; / Her eyes overcome me with desire, / Her lips are a woman's." This portrayal conveys a deep physical and emotional connection, accentuating the speaker's overwhelming desire and admiration.

The speaker's devotion is so intense that they are willing to forsake all else, including their own life and moral principles, for the sake of their love: "For her sake I would betray my comrades, / I would rend the vesture of the most high!" This hyperbolic statement underscores the all-consuming nature of their love.

In the closing lines, the speaker confronts the possibility of death, challenging the deity to slay them together with their beloved if necessary: "Slay us together, mouth to mouth and happy, / And we will thank not curse you." This final plea reflects a willingness to face death as long as it means being united with the beloved, even in the afterlife.

In summary, "Prayer" by Richard Aldington is a powerful and emotive poem that expresses a profound love and a fervent wish for life to continue this love. Through passionate language and vivid imagery, Aldington captures the depth of the speaker's devotion and their willingness to forsake all for the sake of their beloved. The poem is a testament to the all-encompassing and transformative power of love.

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