I Am Not Yours, Sara Teasdale, Analysis & Summary
This study guide provides a detailed analysis of the poem "I Am Not Yours" by Sara Teasdale. The guide explores the poem's structure, themes, literary devices, and the poet's background. Through a comprehensive breakdown of each stanza and critical analysis, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the poem's meaning and significance.
Poem Text
I am not yours, not lost in you,
Not lost, although I long to be
Lost as a candle lit at noon,
Lost as a snowflake in the sea.
You love me, and I find you still
A spirit beautiful and bright,
Yet I am I, who long to be
Lost as a light is lost in light.
Oh plunge me deep in love—put out
My senses, leave me deaf and blind,
Swept by the tempest of your love,
A taper in a rushing wind.
Summary Stanza 1:
The speaker declares that she does not belong to the person addressed in the poem. She expresses a desire to be lost in the person's love, comparing this longing to a candle lit at noon or a snowflake in the sea. …