The theme of the poem is that love is a dangerous risk that people take for the thrilling feeling and hope that love will last forever. The theme is emphasized by the explanation of hardships people face in such a process, “And further from the apex, slipping down,/Fragile my skin, leaving scratches on me.” (Lines 6-7) When people search for love, they face obstacles and may get hurt, like, when a person climbs a mountain. However this does not stop most people, “But I go on for the thrilling feeling,/Reaching the summit, for them and healing.” (Lines 13-14) People are willing to take that risk to experience the thrill of loving someone who can help heal their wounds.The sonnet structure used in …show more content…
Specifically free climbing, meaning the climber does not use ropes or a harness for support. This is an extended metaphor for love, because love is a risk that can severely hurt a person. This supports the theme of love being a dangerous risk that people take in order to reach the summit or find lasting love. The conceit also helps the theme relate to idea, that the greater a risk the greater the reward, and most people are willing to make that gamble in regards to love. People may be hesitant at first, but the longing for love causes them to move forward, “I stare up at the mountain and its peak,/Breathing deeply, beginning to climb free.” (Lines 1-2) When searching for love, there is no safety net and a person may get hurt and collect their own set of scars. However, when a person does reach the top of the mountain or find that right person, the feeling of lasting love is worth any pain or risk. The author uses a specific diction to help the reader relate and actually feel some of the pain, “Fragile my skin, leaving scratches on me.” (Line 7) The author uses words like scratches in contrast to fragile to show how harsh the pursuit is. This also helps people understand the pain and wounds acquired in the search for love by comparing it to the wounds of climbing a mountain. The author’s tone supported the theme as well. The tone begins hopeless and grim showing how painful the risks of love are like climbing a mountain. The poem presents the familiar pain shared by those searching for love, like getting hurt and left behind. This hopeless tone continues through the quatrains until the couplet, “And thoughts turning of my mind back I drown/In, seeming to be such a hopeless branch.(Lines 11-12). The author creates this grim tone by explaining how people may want to give up such a seemingly hopeless pursuit. However, the tone changes at the volta. The tone of the poem becomes more optimistic and encouraging to readers that