Variations Of The Word Love

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Poetry Explication of “Variations on the word Love” by Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood’s poem “Variations on the word Love” is her own cynical views on the word love itself and how it is used too frequently, which has resulted in it becoming almost of no value. The author, who is also the speaker, is articulating the significance of how the word love has become adulterated, trivialized and commercialized. Ms. Atwood is attempting to show how, in her opinion; the word love has reached a point where it has lost its impact and true meaning.
Love itself is described as a powerful emotion for another person manifesting itself in deep affection, devotion or sexual desire often occurring suddenly and without warning. As human beings, we require love to be in our lives and are happier when we feel it ourselves. Ms. Atwood's simple “poem” becomes so complex as it shows her opinion coming across as distain of the manner of which it is now used.
“It’s the right size for those warm blanks in speech, for those red heart-shaped vacancies on the page that look nothing like real hearts. Add lace and you can sell it. (Margaret Atwood “Variations on the word love” 2-7)
It is in this quote that shows the speakers view on how the words love are used in the commercial industry. It also shows how the “vacancies” are filled in with enough of the hearts and lace to be sold.
Even though the vacancies are filled with such trivial and meaningless shows of the emotion love, a few of us latch onto the existence of the idea of love and even wait for it to hit us in the face. Nevertheless, as described by Ms. Atwood, the waiting deafens us.
“Then there’s two of us. This word is far too short for us, it has only four letters, too sparse to fill those deep bare vacuums between the stars that press on us with their deafness.” (21-27)
She tells us in this quote that even though there is an “us”, the word love is much...