Revolving Days poem of memories of a past love by David Malouf

Revolving Days

David Malouf

How did the poet, David Malouf, come back in time with memories of a past love? Give answer with reference to his poem, Revolving Days.

Answer: David Malouf’s poem “Revolving Days” is the title poem of his numerous poetry books. In the poem, he draws a love memory of the past. Although he says that falling in love was a mistake, the love in him survives. He seems to pass the time if he catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He thinks his love is in another room and he decides which one she is going to present. During that time he bought three shirts which he presented changes to himself. He went on observing the shirts with his identity in love.

As the poem progresses it becomes clear that the love the speaker experienced is a little more complicated than it seemed. In this poem the poet, Malouf contains love, memory and transformation (or lack thereof). The speaker spends most of this poem describing a love he used and how that love changed him. However, he himself has not changed at all. Even the person she sued for getting better or worse while being with her ex-boyfriend. But, he knows he has changed. He was somewhere else (where he just didn’t know) and he figured he could be with someone else. His memories of the past are quite strong, so much so that he has been able to depict every moment. Clarity and fun have created his love affair with passion.

Thus in this poem the poet has portrayed the complete images and symbols to represent the pain of captive lovers. Throughout the poem the speaker is reminded of the details of his love which is now broken. He constantly guessed the past with his ladylove with his loneliness in the present.

His remembrance fills his pasture like dew. He feels annoyed that in spite of everything his love cannot stay with him and without him his soul is lost. Now he has mentioned his desire to be reunited with his Ladylove; his eyes search for her, he wants to go to her. His words, ‘love is small but long forgotten’ expresses his love for her.

In reality, time has passed; his ladylove is far away. This feeling of going in and out of reality is reflected in the headline “Revolving Days”. He seems to pass the time if he catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He thinks his ladylove is in another room and he decides which one he is going to present. He bought three shirts during that time which he presented changes in himself. He was experimenting with his identity. In the end, Malouf's words reassure his past love that even if the memories rub off on physical emotions, there will be no intrusion into the present life. He doesn’t expect anything in return. Finally in the third stanza of his poem, ‘Revolving Days,’ the poet makes use of the phrase “Revolving days” to depict the nature of his heart and memory. In this way, the poet, David Malouf, comes back in time with memories of a past love.

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