Our Love Now
Martyn Lowery
How to read the poem
• The way the poem is set out means that it can be
read in two ways.
• With a partner read all the “I said” then all the
“she said” sections.
• Next read one stanza of each
• Which way makes more sense? Why?
• What is the theme of the poem?
• Why do you think the poet has used this layout?
Writing about the poem
• Our Love Now
• ‘Our Love Now’ by _____ is about …
• In the poem the male narrator…
• However, the woman feels…
• I believe that Martyn Lowery is saying…
Theme
• The poem is a dialogue between a man and a
woman about the state of their relationship.
• Each stanza is an extended metaphor for the
state of their relationship.
I said,
observe how the wound heals in time,
how the skin slowly knits
and once more becomes whole
The cut will mend, and such
is our relationship.
The man believes that
the damage can be
repaired
The woman is saying that
there will always be
something there to remind
her of the damage done
Suggests that something
has damaged the
relationship
Alliteration – emphasises
that it will take time
She said,
Although the wound heals
and appears cured, it is not the same.
There is always a scar,
a permanent reminder.
Such is our love now
Extended Metaphor – a cut or wound
In time it
can be
forgotten,
like it has
never
happened
He is saying that what has
happened was “ugly” but
they can put it to the back of
their minds
I said,
observe the scab of the scald,
the red burnt flesh is ugly,
but it can be hidden.
In time it will disappear,
Such is our love, such is our love.
It might no longer hurt
as much as when it first
happened
Never quite go away
All my feelings have
died, gone away
Repetition – he is begging for her to
carry on - their love can survive
anything
She said,
Although the burn will no longer sting
and we’ll almost forget that it’s there
the skin remains bleached
and a numbness prevails.
Such is our love now
Extended metaphor – a burn
I said,
remember how when you cut your hair,
you feel different, and somehow incomplete.
But the hair grows – before long
it is always the same.
Our beauty together is such.
He is saying that things
sometimes “feel different”
but after a while it will be
“the same”
Things will improve
quickly
She is saying that
people change, things
will never be exactly the
same
She said,
After you’ve cut your hair,
it grows again slowly. During that time
changes must occur,
the style will be different.
Such is our love now.
Extended metaphor – hair cut
Takes a long
time to even
seem normal
I said,
“ frightening”
listen to how the raging storm
while it is
damages the trees outside.
happening but The storm is frightening
“soon gone” - it but it will soon be gone.
is over quickly
People will forget it ever existed.
The breach in us can be mended
What happened didn’t last
long
“Forever dead” – final,
cannot be repaired ever!
“Tree” could relate to a
family tree, so not only is
relationship over but family
life too
He is comparing what
has happened to a
“raging storm”
something violent
maybe?
She said,
Although the storm is temporary
and soon passes,
it leaves damage in its wake
which can never be repaired.
The tree is forever dead.
Such is our love
Causes
damage
to the
relations
hip,
leaves
things
that can’t
be
healed
Structure
• The structure of the poem is designed to
convey the breakdown of the relationship.
• The man is on one side, the woman on the
other.
• The man’s words are of reconciliation,
repairing the damage and healing wounds,
whereas the woman talks of scars, numbness
and damage that cannot be repaired.
Rhythm
• There is no clear rhythm or rhyme as
there is no harmony between the couple,
everything is strained and painful.
Theme
• The poem explores the pain caused when a
relationship breaks down.
• The male narrator tries to convince his partner
that their love can be saved but she does not
believe him.
• The man appears rather guilty and desperate,
we don't know what has happened but it seems
like it is his fault.
• By the end the relationship appears doomed as
the woman says ‘The tree is forever dead./ Such
is our love’.
Tone
• The man seems to be pleading for forgiveness,
he is sad that the relationship has broken
down.
• The woman is resigned to the fact that the
relationship is over, she doesn’t think it can be
saved.