Better Treatment of the Theme of Love

Love can be expressed in a variety of ways. The poems "A Red Red Rose" by Robert Burns and "Litany" by Billy Collins, respectively, address the theme of passion. However, the poets used various metrics to communicate their theme. Robert Burns portrays a selfless, romantic, and full of sacrifices kind of love in these two poems, what is stereotypically referred to as ideal love. Billy Collins, on the other hand, portrays egotistic, self-centered, and self-praising affection that portrays the persona as more attractive, if not lovable, than the presented. Finally, Burns handles the theme of love differently than Collins did. Firstly, Burns says, “O my Luve is like a red, red rose,” He first relates his lover to a red rose. Red is the color of love and the rose is the most romantic flower. In the second line “That’s newly sprung in June “, Burns goes ahead to further define the flower. It is newly sprung to mean that it is fresh, and everything fresh is good, and it is in the month of June that the flower appears. June marks the start of Summer in the seasonal calendar and summer is the season of fun and romance. Burns associated his lover with everything good. Collins does the same for his lover in his poem, but he but compares them to the ordinary things. He for instance says, “You are the dew on the morning grass, and the burning wheel of the sun. You are the white apron of the baker, and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.” He appears to value his lover less than Burns values his. Because of loving enough to only compare their lover to the best of things and seasons, Burns stands out.

Secondly, Burns is more confident in his assertions of love than Collins. Burns says,” Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rocks melt wi’ the sun; I will love thee still, my dear, While the sands o’ life shall run.” He clearly confesses to his lover that he will love them for as long as he lives. This shows his confidence in the love, his willingness to ensure it lasts and his courage for he fears not what the future brings that could affect his love. This is gentlemanly and outright genuine love. However, Collins takes a different approach and instead of giving promise of good, he delivers the promise that their poor state compared to his is bound to remain. When he says “You will always be the bread and the knife, not to mention the crystal goblet and--somehow--the wine”, he doesn’t uplift his lover but belittle them and make them feel less worthy of him and somehow the whole world.

Burn’s sentiments reflect more clarity than Collins’ assertions of love. When Burns says, “And fare thee weel, my only luve! And fare thee weel awhile! And I will come again, my luve, though it were ten thousand mile”, his care toward his lover is clear. He prays that they may remain well and come to no harm. He makes a promise do whatever it will take to see his lover again, “ten thousand mile” used as a representation of the much trouble he may incur to do so. This shows the sacrifice he must make for their love to remain. Collins cites no sacrifice in his poem. He but concentrates on his own goodness and relates himself to the better things when he says, “I also happen to be the shooting star, the evening paper blowing down an alley and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.” Self-centeredness and selfishness is clearly evident in his poem “Litany”, factors than under no circumstance depict love. Love is selfless.

Conclusively, Burns’ poem does a better job of expressing love than Collin’s sentiments. What makes Burns’ poem a better treatment of the theme love is the selflessness, sacrifice, good will and care factors that are expressed therein. This is because love is more about giving than receiving. The persona in Collins’ poem appears to be expressing how the distastefulness of the persona as well as their inadequacies.