Is the passion Exhibited in “Discovery” and “My Husband’s Back” Good or Bad Relationships?
“My Husband’s Back”
“My Husband’s Back” is an emotional poem written by Susan Minot. In the poem, Susan successfully turns the events of a stressful Sunday evening into a love poem. The acts of passion in the poem are a symbol of a good relationship between the narrator and her partner.
In this poem, the narrator expresses her admiration for her husband, revealing that the two were tightly bonded by love. This can be seen in the way she describes her husband’s back, terming it as “firm and compact like a young man’s back.” Praises and highlighting the strengths of one’s partner are a common feature in most enjoyable relationships. They are simply a way of solidifying the bond between lovers. Minot further describes her husband as a helpful and caring man who will go to any lengths to ensure that his family is safe. This is visible where she writes, “it sits right there, the back I love (…) leaning on one arm. I could crawl on it forever, the one point in the world turns out I have traveled everywhere to get to” (Minot). Essentially, she is stating that she leans on his strong, slender back together with all her problems, and amazingly he can take them all. This description underlines what everybody would like to have in their romantic relationships, knowing that one can depend on their significant half to bail them out of their problems.
Similarly, the third stanza represents a passionate moment for Minot. As she watches her husband enters, she is overwhelmed with the feeling of love and admiration for him. In a nutshell, “the giant world which swirls in “her” head stopping most thought suddenly ceases to spin” (Minot). At this point, every lousy aspect of her life goes away. The worry in her face is immediately replaced calmness and awe. This transformation proves the primary argument; the passion exhibited in this act is sufficient evidence of the existence of a good relationship.
“Discovery,” by Michael Harper
“Discovery” is a love poem authored by Michael Harper. It narrates a situation where Harper discovers the kind of care which his female companion shows towards him, hence the title “Discovery.” In the poem, Harper’s lover exhibits intense passion that can only be affiliated to a good relationship.
In the context of love, the eyes have always been considered a pathway through which individuals channel their inner passion. Harper rightly says, “she was staring at me with her eyes” (Harper), to show the affection that she felt towards him. This line also demonstrates the act of looking over one’s love interest, and in the coldness of the night to show the love that she had for him. Albeit Harper does no directly write about the difficult condition in the poem, it is suggested in one of the following lines where he writes, “her thigh warming mine.” Such a kind of passion can only be exhibited when two lovers are in a good relationship.
Additionally, the line shows that the author’s lover purposely analyzed the author while he was sleeping. A deep love for an individual can only inspire such an act. This passion is unveiled in the tenth line, where Harper writes, “And I, a little shaken as she stroked my skin and kissed my brow.” Though simple to many, these acts represent a common characteristic of most enjoyable relationships.
As it is widely known, lovemaking is only possible when there are passion and love between two individuals. The line “her breast still sturdy,” suggests a mature woman, who, despite her fading strength due to aging, is still aroused by the partner. The line also indicates an intimate encounter for a female lover. The simple fact, he is beside her, arouses Harper’s partner. She is overwhelmed by this feeling of love towards him. The deep desire to make love to him forces her body to respond as per the above line. Therefore, the audience can only assume that the partners are/were in a good relationship.
Lastly, evidence of the existence of a good relationship between the two characters is brought to life in line thirteen, where Harper notes that his lover had been staring at him for an extended period. He writes that “feeling for the heat which would reveal how long she had looked and care. The bulb was hot. It burned my hand.” This line shows that she was passionate and cared about him, probably more than her sleep. Besides, there is a hint of symbolism in the last line; the author uses this line to show how deeply she was in love with him – the love was so hot that it consumed her.
Works Cited
Harper, Michael. “Discovery.” n.d. Wattpad. Internet. 6 May 2020.
Minot, Susan. “My Husband’s Back.” 22 August 2005. Wenaus. Internet. 6 May 2020.