But what of we could

Freedom

To be you, be your own

To be absent from demands

Or compliance

Of the torrid pangs of love

Which brings nothing but a need

To toe a line

Threatening forever to leave

Is this what life has become?

Or what it could be

I ask for isolation 

I finally am alone

By myself, free to love 

Yet not to be loved back

For loving of late has been tainted

By the need to meet demands 

I do not meet such expectations 

I rather fail, than pretend

I am free to love unhinged

I remain me, I let me be

If you have to find 

A reason that I should be otherwise

Ask yourself this question

Can we not share love and fade

Only to rinse and repeat

Be together, albeit if momentarily 

Love

Indistinguishable, unparalleled 

But love gently.

## Analysis of "But what of we could."

**Theme:** The poem explores the tension between freedom and love. The speaker longs for a love that is free from demands and expectations, questioning the traditional model of love that often involves compromise and sacrifice.

**Structure:**

* The poem is a single stanza with no clear rhyme scheme.

* It uses short lines and conversational language to create a sense of intimacy.

* The poem can be divided into two main sections:

    * **Lines 1-11:** These lines describe the speaker's desire for freedom and their dissatisfaction with the demands of traditional love.

    * **Lines 12-22:** This section explores the speaker's ideal love - one that is untainted by expectations and allows for independence.

**Key elements:**

* **Freedom:** This is the central theme, with words like "freedom," "alone," "unhinged," and "me" recurring throughout.

* **Demands:** The speaker feels burdened by the demands of love, including the need to "toe a line" and meet expectations.

* **Love:** The speaker desires love but wants it to be on their own terms - "love unhinged," "indistinguishable, unparalleled."

* **Isolation:** The speaker seeks isolation as a way to achieve true freedom and self-expression.

* **Disillusionment:** The poem suggests that the speaker has been hurt by past experiences, making them wary of love.

**Figurative Language:**

* **Metaphor:** "Torrid pangs of love" compares love's painful aspects to physical pain.

**Shift:** The poem shifts in tone around line 12. The first section is full of frustration and dissatisfaction. However, the second section becomes more hopeful and idealistic as the speaker envisions a different kind of love.

**Ending:** The poem ends with a question, inviting the reader to consider the possibility of a love that is both fleeting and genuine. "Love / Indistinguishable, unparalleled / But love gently" suggests a love that may be short-lived but still intense and meaningful.

**Overall:**

"But what of we could." is a thought-provoking poem about the complexities of love. It challenges traditional notions and expresses a yearning for a love that is free from constraints.

**Additional points to consider:**

* Who is the "you" addressed in the poem? Is it a specific person, or a representation of love in general?

* How does the poem's title relate to the overall theme?

* Does the poem offer a practical solution to the challenges of love, or is it more focused on expressing an ideal?