I am not Yours by Sara Teasdale

Name: I am not Yours
Author: Sara Teasdale

The poem explores themes of love, identity, and the desire for emotional surrender. The speaker expresses a complex relationship with love, acknowledging the beauty and brightness of the beloved while simultaneously asserting a strong sense of self. The desire to be "lost" in love is juxtaposed with the speaker's insistence on individuality, highlighting an internal conflict between longing for deep connection and the need for personal autonomy. The imagery of being "lost" is significant, as it conveys a yearning for a profound, transformative experience in love, akin to a candle extinguished in the brightness of day or a snowflake dissolving in the ocean. This desire for immersion in love is countered by the speaker's awareness of their own identity, suggesting that true love should not erase individuality but rather enhance it. The poem's tone oscillates between yearning and resistance, illustrating the tension between the desire for passionate connection and the fear of losing oneself in another. The speaker's plea to be "plunged deep in love" reflects a wish to be overwhelmed by emotion, yet the insistence on remaining "I" underscores the importance of self-preservation. Overall, the work captures the paradox of love: the simultaneous desire for unity and the necessity of maintaining one's own identity. The speaker's journey through these conflicting emotions reveals the complexities of human relationships and the struggle to balance intimacy with selfhood.

By Sara Teasdale · First published 1913 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Modernist Poetry · 128 words

First lines

I AM not yours, not lost in you, Not lost, altho' I long to be Lost as a candle lit at noon, Lost as a snow-flake 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.

What this Textopian page supports

I am not Yours is listed on Textopian as a poem by Sara Teasdale, dated 1913 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Poem
Author: Sara Teasdale
Date: 1913 CE
Language: English
Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Modernist Poetry, Confessional Poetry, Imagist Poetry
Length: 128 words
Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Romantic Poetry — Themes of love and longing are central, aligning with the romantic poetry genre.
Modernist Poetry — The poem's exploration of identity and emotional depth reflects modernist themes.
Confessional Poetry — The intimate expression of personal feelings suggests elements of confessional poetry.