Kisor Poem 2
Louise Glück is an American poet from the 20th century. Glück's poems often deal with sensitive subjects such as relationships, loneliness, family, and even divorce. Using Circe, a goddess of magic in greek mythology that sometimes turned enemies or those who offended her into animals, as a symbol Glück shows a special relationship between a goddess and someone who she can never be with. "the law, the vocation / that forbid me to keep you, the sea" Circe loves this person, however she knows she can never truly be with that person because of her status and duties as a goddess. Knowing that she cannot love this person she lets go. But like all people who are broken up with, the person Circe loves, eventually moves on and loves another woman. "such feeling for your wife / as will let you / rest with her, I refuse you / sleep again / if I cannot have you." Circe takes on an attitude that if I can't have him, then nobody can.
Louise Glück
I regret bitterly
the years of loving you in both
your presence and absence, regret
the law, the vocation
that forbid me to keep you, the sea
that forbid me to keep you, the sea
a sheet of glass, the sun-bleached
beauty of the Greek ships: how
could I have power if
I had no wish
to transform you: as
to transform you: as
you loved my body,
as you found there
passion we held above
all other gifts, in that single moment
over honor and hope, over
loyalty, in the name of that bond
I refuse you
such feeling for your wife
as will let you
rest with her, I refuse you
sleep again
if I cannot have you.
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