Symbol Analysis
“Love After Love” describes an event that could never happen in the real world. In real life, your reflection doesn’t just step out of the mirror and join you for dinner. But hey, inside a poem, or inside your own head, anything can happen. In addition to being fun, imaginative experience can speak to us in ways that rational thought cannot. Bubbling up from the depths of our hearts and minds and spirits, imagined scenes—such as the “feast” in “Love After Love”—can convey symbolic meanings that expand our awareness and understanding.
- Line 6: As a universal gesture of hospitality, the offering of food is designed to set guests at ease and make them feel at home. In line 6, you are the one who offers “food” to a mysterious guest, symbolizing generosity of spirit as well as openness to new encounters.
- Line 8: In this line, generic “food” is identified as “wine” and “bread,” associated not only with romantic picnics but also with the symbolism of Christian communion (for more on this idea, see the “Shout-Outs” section).
- Line 15: For foodies, a “feast” is one of the great pleasures in life, though the ideal menu varies according to personal preferences (just ask those “Chopped” judges). But what does it mean to “feast on your life”? Chowing down on your favorite foods is one thing, but feasting on something as abstract as “your life” is another kettle of fish. However you parse the symbolism of the life feast, in the context of the poem, the imagery of eating and drinking are clearly positive, connoting shared joy.