A Decade by Amy Lowell

Introduction
Amy Lowell wrote majority of her poems after meeting the love of her live Ada Russell. Their relationship lasted for thirteen years up until the death of the writer Amy Lowell. To Amy, Ada was a beloved companion, secretary, and nurturing muse. The poem A decade is written in dedication of their tenth year anniversary together. In "Portrait of a Lady, William Carlos Williams, he depicts a conversation between
him and a woman. A woman he most likely loves as from the descriptions. A Decade by Amy Lowell describes a relationship between two women. This is a homosexual relationship, unlike the early heterosexual relationship. Both of the writers in the poems use imagery and similes to elaborate on the feelings they have toward their lovers. The writers describe how their feelings for their loved ones go from being wild and crazy to becoming a second nature for the writers.
A Decade by Amy Lowell
The title of the poem is a decade. Amy Lowell writes the poem top celebrate the tenth year anniversary of her relationship with her lesbian lover Ada Russell. The poem describes a relationship between a duo for ten years with their love still growing strong. The message in the poem is not apparent. Only after reading the poem for several times does the reader get the message in the poem. The first line of her poem When you came, you were like red wine and honey, Amy describes the initial attraction that occurred between her and Ada ten years ago. a strong attraction between two people in a relationship is common, especially during the first few months of the relationship. She uses When you came to signify it was at the beginning of the relationship. , you were like red wine and honey is used metaphorically to describe the sweet and intense relationship she enjoys with her newfound companion during the initial days of the relationship (McCabe 398).
The second line in the poem and the taste of you burnt my mouth with its sweetness. Amy indicates that she feels overwhelmed by the love in the relationship. She, however, cannot resist the powerful love she feels for her lover Ada. This first two lines indicate the first few months probably years in the relationship were characterized by strong passion and overwhelming love between the two (McCabe 398). The choice of red wine and honey in the first line of the poem is to symbolize the lust and flattery between Amy and her lover Ada during the initial phase of the relationship. The writer uses the red wine and honey to represent the sensual nature of their relationship with Ada. The writer elaborates that at the initial stages of their relationship, they could not get enough of each other. Like a candle flame, love cannot sustain for long at such high intensities. Later in the poem the writer, demonstrate that even though the passion fade, their love does not reduce or weaken in any manner (McCabe 399).
In the third line of the poem, Now you are like morning bread,” Amy describes a relationship less passionate than earlier. The relationships is a bit soft when compared to the one described at the beginning of the poem. She uses the words morning bread to describe the tasteless nature of the relationship in comparison to the red wine and honey in the first line. The writer indicates that though she has not lost the initial passion she felt for her lover ten year ago, it has begun to fade away. Amy indicates that any relationship would lose it passion, at least a bit over a period of ten years. The trick to a successful relationship according to Amy is not letting the initial passion die out. In the fourth line smooth and pleasant, she indicates that the relationship is still moving on well even though they have been together for ten years, and the passion between them has faded a bit. She indicates she is no less in love with her companion now than she was ten years ago (McCabe 400). the third and fourth line in the poem indicate that though the initial passion in a relationship may fade, the love between the two still continues and grows strong ever day.
The last two lines in the poem are a bit complex when compared to the rest of the poem. In the line I hardly taste you at all, for I know your savour, communicates the strong love Amy still has for her lover Ada even after the ten years. Nourished in the last line of the poem indicate the satisfaction the writer draws from the relationship. The message in the poem describes a lesbian relationship between the writer Amy Lowell and her lover Ada Russell. The poem describes a lesbian love between two women at a time when such a thing was unheard off. The main message is that love does not weaken over time, it may change form, but ultimately it grows stronger each passing day. The main message in the poem is that love is eternal. The writer description of the strong feeling she has for her lover is a first in the depiction of homosexual marriages as similar to the heterosexual marriages in terms of love and passion over a course of time (McCabe 400).
Conclusion
A decade by Amy Lowell is about a sustained relationship between the writer and her lover and roommate Ada Russell. Throughout the poem, the writer uses many metaphors and similes to describe the attraction she feels toward her lover. The entire poem consists of six unrhymed lines. The poem falls under freestyle because no main structure is followed throughout the poem. The writer of the poem describes the possible outcome of a new relationship similar to the one she has with her lover, secretary, and roommate. T.E. Hulme, autumn is a poem that has six lines similar to a decade by Amy Lowell. The poem describes beauty and change just like a decade; however, the beauty and change in the poem comprise seasons. T.E. Hulme uses the moon to describe the beauty he sees in the night. Amy Lowell uses red wine and honey to describe the beauty in their relationship. Both writers use metaphors and similes to communicate their message of beauty.
 Works cited
McCabe, Susan. "Amy Lowell, Diva Poet." Modernism/Modernity 19.2 (2012): 398-400. ProQuest. 30 Sep. 2013.