The Ache of Marriage by Denise Levertov

Summary: The Ache of Marriage by Denise Levertov is a poem about the deep feelings of emotion as an ache in a marriage with the speaker's "beloved"

Characters:

Speaker - talks to beloved about "the ache of marriage"

Verse 1:

Speaker introduces the theme of the poem which is "the ache of marriage"

Verse 2:

Speaker relates how "the ache of marriage" relates to certain parts of the body
"Throbs in the teeth" means that you can relate it the throbbing of a toothache, a cavity
Speaker talks about the tongue being heavy with it; refers to the words that come from the mouth can hurt or ache when in reference to marriage
The ache of the thigh may refer to the ache one might get as from a marathon, a marriage can be construed as a marathon
It is written that the speaker talks to her "beloved"

Verse 3:

In marriage one wants to share feelings and thoughts with their "beloved" but sometimes it's not possible and those that are married become individuals
It is written that the speaker talks to her "beloved" the speaker talks to her "beloved"

Verse 4:

The speaker sees marriage as a giant serpent that has eaten those who are married and deep from within the bowels of the monster they would not know joy even if they look for it; joy is on the outside

Verse 5:

Each couple if married will experience "the ache of marriage"

Other Notes:

The speaker talks to the "beloved" throughout the poem quite possibly to ask help to fix things that make the marriage "ache"
This poem was written in 1964 and still may apply today and seems timeless
This poem touches upon a common theme, pain in love