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A Timeline of 
Love 
 
Poetry Anthology 
Editor: Lexie Pellegrino 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Table of Contents 
 

Preface…………………………………………………………………....…….………….……Page 3 
 
About the Author and Analysis………………………………...……………………....Page 4 
My Love for You Is So Embarrassingly by Todd Boss……..………….…….Page 5 
 
About the Author and Analysis…………………………………….…………………...Page 6 
The Passionate Shepherd to His Love 
by Christopher Marlowe …………………………………….…………………………..Page 7 
 
About the Author and Analysis……………………….………………………………...Page 8 
The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd  
by Sir Walter Raleigh……………………………………………………….…………….Page 9 
 
About the Author and Analysis…………………………………………….………….Page 10 
To My Dear and Loving Husband by Anne Bradstreet……………………….Page 11 
 
About the Author and Analysis…………………..……………………….…………..Page 12 
Last Night by Sharon Olds……………………………………………………………..Page 13 
 
About the Author and Analysis……………………………………………….……….Page 14 
One Perfect Rose by Dorothy Parker……………………………..……………….Page 15 
 
About the Author and Analysis……………………………………………….……….Page 16 
Sestina by Ciara Shuttleworth……………….……………………..………..……….Page 17 
 
About the Author and Analysis…………………………………………….………….Page 18 
Divorce by Billy Collins……………………………………………………….………….Page 19 
 
About the Author and Analysis…………………………………………….………….Page 20 
The Victims by Sharon Olds……………………………………………….………...…Page 21 
 
Acknowledgements……………………….……………………………………….………..Page 22 
 
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Preface 
For this poem anthology I have put together an array of poetry that looks at the
transition of love. It will begin with what we will call new and precious love, to then turn
into poems about broken hearts, past love, and divorce. I would like to create a story
throughout the organization of these poems so that you, the reader, can look at love
from different perspectives, know it’s meaning, and it’s worth. Hopefully as you read you
will not only be moved by the poets’ use of language and form, but you will be able to
connect to the poems and the transition of the anthology as well. Throughout poetic
history, poets have created a plethora of poems about this topic, so it makes my work
as the editor of this anthology both easier and harder to choose from because of the
amount of works there are. I chose this topic because as a human it is easy to relate.
Personally, my beliefs are deeply rooted in love, and I wanted to share what I feel is one
of the most important human emotions with the readers. I have always found the subject
of love and all of its meanings and forms extremely enticing. I also believe that the topic
of love in literature enhances the stories figurative language. For example, there is more
opportunity for the use of metaphor and simile when talking about love, because love is
a universal feeling. If I were to say things like, “love is fire”, “love is a fine wine”, or “love
is like the ocean”, you would know what I mean. Even more than that, you would have
your own personal meaning to the words. That is what makes love so special. Going
through the process of putting this anthology together I found that I enjoyed reading
each poem, but I ran into challenges with the time it took to complete the work. For
example, analyzing the poems was a big part of what I had to do in order to choose the
poems and put them in the right order. I found that it was hard to analyze deep poems
like some of the poems I added to the anthology, but with close reading, reading, and
looking at the context around me, I found that it became easier and more enjoyable. I
definitely worked hard to pick the best poems, put them in an order that would work best
for the anthology, find what I could about each author, and report what I thought about
each poem. The order of the poems changed many times before I came to a final
decision. This, I believe, is a metaphor to love and how there is no right way to do it, you
can really only love in your own way. As for resources, I tried to find poems in our
class’s Norton textbook about love that I could connect with and make an important part
of this anthology. I found that using the Norton textbook helped me focus in on the love
poems I was able to choose from. If I used other resources, I feel as if I would have had
a harder time putting together the anthology. One interesting thing I found while putting
this together was looking at the times each author was alive and when each poem was
published. In this way, one can see that love has always been, and will always be, one
of the most important aspects in a person’s live. Now, with all of this in mind, I hope you
enjoy the anthology entitled, “The Transition of Love”.
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About the Author  

 
Todd Boss was born in 1968 and raised on a cattle farm near Fall Creek,
Wisconsin. Boss received his BA from St. Olaf College in 1991 and his
MFA in poetry from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 1994.
 
Boss is a critically-acclaimed poet, librettist, public artist, and film producer,
holds a diverse career with a passion for collaboration.

“My Love for You Is So Embarrassingly” is most popularly seen as a

motionpoem animated and designed by Deb Kirkeeide.

This poem was published in 2011 and was dedicated to Boss’ wife.

Analysis 
 
I chose this poem to start my poem anthology because of it’s vulnerability.
The kind of love that his poem exemplifies is new, giddy, and free. It is
much like what people describe as puppy love, and I believe it is a perfect
poem to start off my anthology that consists of the transition of love. I also
picked it because of the motionpoem that accompanies the poem. I believe
it makes a clearer image of what the poet is trying to say. The poet refers to
common things in society and ties them back to his love for his wife, and
this intertwining of details and easy read made it the perfect poem to start
off this anthology with.

 
 
 
 
 
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My Love for You Is So Embarrassingly  
a love poem By Todd Boss 

grand…would you mind terribly, my groundling,

if I compared it to the ​Hindenburg​ (I mean,
before​ it burned)–that vulnerable, elephantine

dream of transport, a fabric ​Titanic​ on an ocean

of air? There: with binoculars, dear, you can
just make me out, in a gondola window, wildly

flapping both arms as the ship’s shadow

moves like a vagrant country across the
country where you live in relative safety. I pull

that oblong shadow along behind me whenever I go.

It is so big, and goes so slowly, it alters
ground temperatures noticeably, makes

housewives part kitchen curtains, wrings

whimpers from German shepherds. Aren’t I
ridiculous? Isn’t it anachonistic, this

dirigible devotion, this Zeppelin affection, a moon

that touches, with a kiss of wheels, the ground
you take for granted beneath your heels?—

https://youtu.be/fQKOW3SoM0w
 
 
 
 
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About the Author 
 
Moving back to the Elizabethan era, Christopher Marlowe was baptised on
February 26, 1564, and died on May 30, 1593. He was an English
playwright, poet and translator. He was also a big influencer of William
Shakespeare.

There was a warrant that issued for Marlowe’s arrest. There is no real
reason as to why he was arrested, but he was stabbed to death ten days
later. It is uncertain that the stabbing had any relation to his arrest.

The poem was published in 1599.

Analysis  
 
This is an example of pastoral poetry, where poets would play off the
common romanticizing of rustic living with a 'back to nature' sentiment. In
this poem, Marlowe tries to entice his love to come live with him in the
fields by promising her lavish clothing, beautiful nature, and amazing food.
This poem is also about romanticized love that almost seems too good to
be true for Marlowe. Another reason I included this poem is because of
another poem coming later in the anthology that responds to this poem. As
this poem is about a shepherds love for a woman, the retaliating poem is
from the woman’s perspective. This poem is from the Elizabethan era and
gives the anthology a broader time frame of love.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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The Passionate Shepherd to His Love 

By Christopher Marlowe 
 
Come live with me and be my love,
And we will all the pleasures prove,
That Valleys, groves, hills, and fields,
Woods, or steepy mountain yields.

And we will sit upon the Rocks,

Seeing the Shepherds feed their flocks,
By shallow Rivers to whose falls
Melodious birds sing Madrigals.

And I will make thee beds of Roses

And a thousand fragrant posies,
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroidered all with leaves of Myrtle;

A gown made of the finest wool

Which from our pretty Lambs we pull;
Fair lined slippers for the cold,
With buckles of the purest gold;

A belt of straw and Ivy buds,

With Coral clasps and Amber studs:
And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me, and be my love.

The Shepherds’ Swains shall dance and sing

For thy delight each May-morning:
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me, and be my love.
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About the Author  

 
Sir Walter Raleigh was born in either 1552 or 1554 and died on October 29,
1618. ​ He was an English, writer, poet, soldier, politician, courtier, spy and
explorer. He is also known for popularizing tobacco in England.

In 1594, Raleigh heard of a "City of Gold" in South America and sailed to

find it to then publish an exaggerated account of his experiences.

He was imprisoned in 1592 for secretly marrying one of Queen Elizabeth's

ladies in waiting.

This poem was published in 1600.

Analysis 
 
In this poem written in iambic tetrameter, Raleigh presents the argument
put forth by Marlowe's shepherd and disses it, calling the shepherd out on
the impermanence and short-term nature of all his promises to the nymph.
For example, he talks about the nature that will fade because of the
weather, and how it is an invalid reason as to why the lover should stay
long term. He also talks about how the amazing clothes that are promised
will age and tarnish. This poem fits into my anthology because not only is it
a retaliation to the poem that is before it, but it also begins the transition of
love. This poem shows that there is more to love than materialistic things,
which brings me to the next choice of poems.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd  

by Sir Walter Raleigh 
 
If all the world and love were young,
And truth in every Shepherd’s tongue,
These pretty pleasures might me move,
To live with thee, and be thy love.

Time drives the flocks from field to fold,

When Rivers rage and Rocks grow cold,
And ​Philomel​ becometh dumb,
The rest complains of cares to come.

The flowers do fade, and wanton fields,

To wayward winter reckoning yields,
A honey tongue, a heart of gall,
Is fancy’s spring, but sorrow’s fall.

Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of Roses,

Thy cap, thy kirtle, and thy posies
Soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten:
In folly ripe, in reason rotten.

Thy belt of straw and Ivy buds,

The Coral clasps and amber studs,
All these in me no means can move
To come to thee and be thy love.

But could youth last, and love still breed,

Had joys no date, nor age no need,
Then these delights my mind might move
To live with thee, and be thy love.
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About the Author  

 
Anne Bradstreet was born in Northampton, United Kingdom on March 20,
1612, and died on September 16, 1672 in Andover Massachusetts.

She was the most prominent of early English poets in North America and
was the first writer in England's North American colonies to be published.

She was a Puritan and believed in life after death, which is prominent in her
writing.

The poem was written between 1641 and 1643.

 
Analysis 

This poem describes the compatibility between the speaker and her
husband. Historically we know that Bradstreet loved her husband very
much. For example, she describes how much she values her husband's
love, how strong her love is, and how she will never be able to repay her
husband for his love in the famous lines, “If ever two were one, then surely
we./If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.”, as well as the last four
lines where she wants to make it known that she wants their love to
persevere. Bradstreet follows Shakespeare in the fact that this is iambic
pentameter, and two lines short of a sonnet. This poem represents mature
love, and is a great transition piece in this anthology. This is an amazing
example of marital love, supported by this poem being well known and
popular to use at weddings.

 
 
 
 
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To My Dear and Loving Husband  

by Anne Bradstreet 
 
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay;
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
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About the Author  

Olds was born in San Francisco, California on November 19, 1942. She is
75 years old.

She earned a BA at Stanford University and a PhD at Columbia University.

Olds was raised as a “hellfire Calvinist.”

She is a Pulitzer Prize winner.

This poem was published in 1996 in a book of her poems entitled “The
Wellspring”.
 
Analysis  
 
Olds is known for writing intensely personal poetry which depicts family life
as well as political events. In “Last Night”, she displays these talents
through her writing. The title is a literal title, referring to the occurrences
that happened the night before. The two people in the poem are
experiencing each other for the first time, and Olds suggests that sex is
not love, but lust. She does this by writing about sex as heat, death, and
gripping. She talks about love after all of this happens when she is being
held to go to sleep. This is another great addition to this anthology
because it shows the difference between lust, which is what I tried to
capture at the beginning of this anthology, to real love, which is what we
are finding as we transition through the anthology.
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Last Night 
by Sharon Olds 
 
The next day, I am almost afraid.
Love? It was more like dragonflies
in the sun, 100 degrees at noon,
the ends of their abdomens stuck together, I
close my eyes when I remember. I hardly
knew myself, like something twisting and
twisting out of a chrysalis,
enormous, without language, all
head, all shut eyes, and the humming
like madness, the way they writhe away,
and do not leave, back, back,
away, back. Did I know you? No kiss,
no tenderness–more like killing, death-grip
holding to life, genitals
like violent hands clasped tight
barely moving, more like being closed
in a great jaw and eaten, and the screaming
I groan to remember it, and when we started
to die, then I refuse to remember,
the way a drunkard forgets. After,
you held my hands extremely hard as my
body moved in shudders like the ferry when its
axle is loosed past engagement, you kept me
sealed exactly against you, our hairlines
wet as the arc of a gateway after
a cloudburst, you secured me in your arms till I slept–
that was love, and we woke in the morning
clasped, fragrant, buoyant, that was
the morning after love.
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About the Author 

 
Dorothy Parker was born on August 22, 1893 in Long Branch, New Jersey
and died on June 7, 1967 in New York City, New York.

She struggled with depression and alcoholism in the 1920’s.

Parker died of a heart attack.

She was part of the American Modernism literary movement.

This poem was published in 1923 in a book of her poems entitled, “Enough
Rope”.  

Analysis 
 
The rhyme scheme of this poem is ABAB. It contains three quatrains and
used two different meters in each stanza. The first three lines of each
quatrain are in iambic pentameter, and the last line is in iambic dimeter.
Parker used this to mess up the flow of the poem, which also illustrated her
annoyance that she also makes clear in the text. This poem is narrated by
a speaker who has been given roses too many times, and wants to be
given something bigger to win her over. You can see in the poem her
annoyance when she doesn’t get something bigger like a limo, and then
jokes that it is just her luck to get another perfect rose. This poem fits well
into the anthology because it shows that you have to work hard for love. It
also starts our next transition into misunderstood love, and broken love. I
personally enjoy how witty Parker’s statements are which is one of the
reasons why I included this into my anthology.
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One Perfect Rose 

By Dorothy Parker 
 
 

 
 
 
A single flow'r he sent me, since we met.
All tenderly his messenger he chose;
Deep-hearted, pure, with scented dew still wet -
One perfect rose.

I knew the language of the floweret;

'My fragile leaves,' it said, 'his heart enclose.'
Love long has taken for his amulet
One perfect rose.

Why is it no one ever sent me yet

One perfect limousine, do you suppose?
Ah no, it's always just my luck to get
One perfect rose.

https://youtu.be/iMnv1XNpuwM
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About the Author 

 
Ciara Shuttleworth was born in San Francisco and grew up in Nebraska,
Nevada, and Washington state.

Shuttleworth received an MFA in poetry from University of Idaho, a BFA in

painting/drawing from San Francisco Art Institute, and a BA in studio art
from Gustavus Adolphus College.

This poem was written in ten minutes.

This poem was published in the New Yorker in 2010.

 
Analysis 

With such few words, controlling space, emphasis, and the use of different
grammar points in this sestina. Shuttleworth used ambiguity and multiple
analyses to enhance her poem. The speaker’s tone could be accusatory,
ashamed, playful, or regretful. This poem is left up to the reader’s
interpretation. I tend to lean towards an optimistic point of view where I
believe the speaker moves from anger to acceptance and soon progresses
to love again. Others may say that the speaker comes to accept that she
has fallen out of love. As a whole, the transition of love embodies this
poem, and fits very well into my anthology.
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Sestina 
By Ciara Shuttleworth 

You Me,
used too,
to used...
love well...
me you.
well. Love,

Well, love
you— me.
me— You,
used too
love well
to… used,

to… used
well… love
love. well.
You Me,
used too.
me. You!

You used
to love
me well.
 Page 18 

About the Author 

 
Collins was born on March 22, 1941 in New York City, New York. He is 76
years old.

His full name is William James Collins.

He earned a BA from the College of the Holy Cross, and both an MA and
PhD from the University of California-Riverside.

Dubbed, “The most popular poet in America” by Bruce Weber in the New
York Times.

This poem was published in 2004 in a book of his entitled, “Ballistics”.

Analysis 
 
This poem is nothing without its title. It sets the stage for what the poet is
about to say. Collins uses a lot of symbolism in his poem. Using utensils, a
very common thing found in a household, Collins suggests that divorce is
common. The two spoons in bed symbolize marriage because spoons fit
perfectly together, as well as it being a saying that two people cuddling are
two people “spooning”. The two forks symbolize the decline of the
marriage, with the gaps of the forks letting the love fall away. The knives on
the granite table symbolize the lawyers that the two divorcees have hired to
brutally end their marriage. This poem begins the end of this anthology
where our poets are falling out of love, and where love will soon cease to
exist in their lives.
 
 
 
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Divorce 
By Billy Collins 
 
Once, two spoons in bed,
now tined forks
across a granite table
and the knives they have hired.
 

https://youtu.be/87bFVxNBpTI
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About the Author 

 
Olds was born in San Francisco, California on November 19, 1942. She is
75 years old.

She earned a BA at Stanford University and a PhD at Columbia University.

Olds was raised as a “hellfire Calvinist.”

She is a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Analysis 
 
With the last poem in the anthology we revisit Sharon Olds. This poem
deals with an underlying theme of abuse. Olds illustrates this theme
through the tone of the poem, which can be most identified as spite,
disgust, and hatred. In this poem the speaker is illustrated through two
points of view, first as a child, then as an adult reflecting back on the
horrible childhood experience. To end this anthology we end with a love
that has been destroyed between a family. The joy the family gets out of
seeing their father leave is painted vividly when she talks about grinning
when he was fired and loving when they got divorced. It shows that things
come from love, such as marriages and children, but many things can be
done to ruin the good thing that was once had.
 
 
 
 
 
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The Victims 
By Sharon Olds 

When Mother divorced you, we were glad. She took it and

took it in silence, all those years and then
kicked you out, suddenly, and her
kids loved it. Then you were fired, and we
grinned inside, the way people grinned when
Nixon's helicopter lifted off the South
Lawn for the last time. We were tickled
to think of your office taken away,
your secretaries taken away,
your lunches with three double bourbons,
your pencils, your reams of paper. Would they take your
suits back, too, those dark
carcasses hung in your closet, and the black
noses of your shoes with their large pores?
She had taught us to take it, to hate you and take it
until we pricked with her for your
annihilation, Father. Now I
pass the bums in doorways, the white
slugs of their bodies gleaming through slits in their
suits of compressed silt, the stained
flippers of their hands, the underwater
fire of their eyes, ships gone down with the
lanterns lit, and I wonder who took it and
took it from them in silence until they had
given it all away and had nothing
left but this.
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Acknowledgements 
 
I could not have completed this anthology without the help of my English
teacher, Mr. Hosten and the rest of my English 12 class. I sincerely thank
you for our class discussions and your guidance and encouragement in
finishing this assignment and teaching this educational course. I also thank
you for introducing me to the Norton textbook in which I found all of my
poems from.
I would also like to thank the poets I selected for my anthology for creating
art that is not only a fantastic read on it’s own, but for fitting together so well
to create the piece I worked hard editing together.
Last but not least I would like to thank everyone from poets.org, The New
Yorker, and schmoop.com for laying out the information I needed to create
a successful anthology.