In order to answer an essay question on any poem it is vital that you understand what it is about. This section includes:
- The poem in a nutshell
- A “translation” of the poem, section-by-section
- A commentary of each of these sections, outlining Jen Hadfield’s intention and message
'Love’s Dog' in a nutshell
'Love’s Dog', written by British poet Jen Hadfield, is a debate on the advantages and disadvantages of love. The poem offers a balanced yet unconventional evaluation that highlights complexities in romantic relationships.
'Love’s Dog' breakdown
Lines 1–2
“What I love about love is its diagnosis
What I hate about love is its prognosis”
Translation
- The poem begins with the speaker’s opposing feelings about love
- The lines use a metaphor that relates to illness:
- The “diagnosis” or symptoms (implying physical responses) of being in love are good but the outcome (the “prognosis”) is bad
Hadfield's intention
- Hadfield mirrors lines about love and hate to show close connections
- The poet suggests the complex nature of romantic relationships brings mixed feelings
Lines 3–4
“What I hate about love is its me me me
What I love about love is its Eat-me/Drink-me”
Translation
- These lines continue a list of opposing statements about love
- The speaker says love is “me me me”, perhaps implying it can make you self-absorbed
- This is contrasted with a reference to a fantasy story, Alice in Wonderland, perhaps to imply its mysterious and magical nature:
- The phrase “Eat-me/Drink-me” refers to labelled instructions on a cake and a bottle that change Alice’s size and lead her to an imaginary world
Hadfield's intention
- Hadfield continues a list of contrasting statements that assess different aspects of love
- In these lines, she alludes to the idea of transformation
Lines 5–6
“What I love about love is its petting zoo
What I love about love is its zookeeper - you”
Translation
- Here, the speaker relates love to control and physical care
- The couplets list two things the speaker loves as they address a listener
Hadfield's intention
- Hadfield, perhaps, highlights ideas about care-giving in relationships
- The direct address, accentuated by a dash, suggest a partner who controls and supervises, as well as offers care
Line 7–8
“What I love about love is its truth serum
What I hate about love is its shrinking potion”
Translation
- The speaker again refers to the way love can alter someone
- These lines suggest love can force truth and make you feel small
Hadfield's intention
- The speaker seems grateful for the honesty of intimate relationships:
- On the other hand, the poem implies this can be humbling:
- Perhaps this suggests uncomfortable truths that must be faced
Lines 9–10
“What I love about love is its doubloons
What I love about love is its bird-bones”
Translation
- Here, the lines both describe what the speaker loves about love again
- The first line conveys love as precious and valuable:
- The word “doubloons” refers to old coins, and connotes to pirates and treasure
- This is then contrasted with a starker image of small, bare bones
Hadfield's intention
- The strange imagery presents love’s dichotomies
- The poet uses incongruous images to symbolise two good things about love:
- The imagery connotes to adventure and wealth
- The image of “bird-bones” may connote to something that is fragile
Lines 11–12
“What I hate about love is its boil-wash
What I love about love is its spin-cycle”
Translation
- These lines refer to a washing machine, which presents love in an unconventional way
- The speaker hates the “boil-wash”, connoting to intense heat that purifies
- The speaker says they love the “spin-cycle”, connoting to dizziness
Hadfield's intention
- Hadfield uses mundane imagery to express intense emotions:
- The imagery alludes to ideas of painful purging (a love that purifies)
- In contrast, love can bring excitement, maybe confusion
Lines 13–14
“What I loathe about love is its burnt toast and bonemeal
What I hate about love is its bent cigarette”
Translation
- The speaker returns to describing two things they hate (“loathe”) about love
- The imagery connotes to damaged things: “burnt toast” and a “bent cigarette”
- The speaker also mentions “bonemeal” (a fertiliser made of ground animal bone)
Hadfield's intention
- Hadfield uses alliteration to draw attention to love’s ability to ruin or break
- Darker images illustrate the speaker’s acknowledgment of painful emotions
Lines 15–16
“What I love about love is its pirate
What I hate about love is its sick parrot”
Translation
- These lines end the poem with opposing statements about love
- The imagery relates back to adventure with the word “pirate” and “parrot”:
- Parrots are associated with legendary stories about pirates
- However, the speaker ends saying they hate the fact love is “sick”
Hadfield's intention
- Hadfield’s evaluation of love ends with allusions to dangerous adventures that can physically weaken
- The lines highlight the risk and excitement of romantic relationships