Love Cycle by Chinua Achebe

Author Introduction

Chinua Achebe (1930-2013) was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and essayist. He is best known for his novel Things Fall Apart (1958), which is considered one of the greatest novels ever written in English. Achebe's work explores the themes of colonialism, identity, and the African experience.

Summary

The poem "Love Cycle" by Chinua Achebe compares the relationship between the sun and the earth to a human love relationship. The poem begins with the sun withdrawing its "long misty arms of embrace" from the earth at dawn. The earth is left "perfumed in dewdrop fragrance" and "wakes to whispers of soft-eyed light." The sun's departure is compared to the aftermath of dispassionate sex between a couple.

The sun then "wears out his temper ploughing the vast acres of heaven" and takes it out on the earth in "burning darts of anger." The earth endures the sun's harshness, like a woman who is dissatisfied with her partner but remains in the relationship for reasons of her own.

Towards the end of the poem, the speaker speculates on why the earth continues to stay in a relationship with the sun. The speaker suggests that the earth may be drawn to the sun's "great power" and "magnificent beauty." The earth may also be hopeful that the sun will eventually change its ways and become a more loving and gentle partner.

Analysis

The poem "Love Cycle" is a metaphor for the complex and often contradictory nature of love. The sun represents the passionate and destructive aspects of love, while the earth represents the patient and enduring aspects of love. The poem suggests that love is a cycle that repeats itself, with periods of passion and anger alternating with periods of patience and endurance.

The poem also explores the theme of hope. The earth remains in a relationship with the sun even though it is often mistreated, because it is hopeful that the sun will eventually change its ways. This suggests that even in the most difficult relationships, there is always hope for a better future.

Themes

The poem "Love Cycle" explores the following themes:

The complex and contradictory nature of love

The power of hope

The importance of patience and endurance

Style

The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a strict rhyme scheme or meter. This allows the poet to express the natural and unpredictable rhythms of love. The poem is also full of vivid imagery, which helps to bring the reader into the world of the poem.

Conclusion

"Love Cycle" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the many aspects of love. The poem is a reminder that love is a complex and unpredictable emotion, but it is also an emotion that is worth fighting for.

Text

At dawn slowly

the sun withdraws his

long misty arms of

embrace. Happy lovers

whose exertions leave

no aftertaste nor slush

of love’s combustion; Earth

perfumed in dewdrop

fragrance wakes

to whispers of

soft-eyed light…

Later he

will wear out his temper

ploughing the vast acres

of heaven and take it

out of her in burning

darts of anger. Long

accustomed to such caprice

she waits patiently

for evening when thoughts

of another night will

restore his mellowness

and her power

over him.

From:  1971, Beware Soul Brother and Other Poems

Copyright ©:  Christmas in Biafra and other Poems