Poetry · Chapter
Desire explained
The poem 'Desire' reflects on the fleeting and destructive nature of desire, comparing it to a double death and the swift evaporation of a strange perfume in a naked room.
What happens
The poem 'Desire' reflects on the fleeting and destructive nature of desire, comparing it to a double death and the swift evaporation of a strange perfume in a naked room.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Loss
Desire is portrayed as a double death, emphasizing the loss and ephemeral nature of intimate connection.
Death and Mortality
The poem directly compares desire to a double death, linking passion with mortality and finality.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker reflects on the experience of desire with a partner.
Key passages
“Desire to us / Was like a double death.”
Our desire felt like dying twice over.
The speaker equates desire with a profound, dual loss.
“Evaporation / Of an unknown strange perfume / Between us quickly / In a naked room.”
Like a mysterious scent that vanishes fast in an empty room.
Desire is described as something fleeting and intangible, disappearing as quickly as it came.