The Power of Poetry
Review of ‘In Request of Love’
the poem by Cinette Santangelo
The first thought I have when reading this over is how it made me feel so uncomfortable. As a woman, I especially resonated with the author’s anger and sense of loss for love. It’s terrific how the poem seems to be from an outsider’s perspective because it would be hard to fault her from that vantage point. We’re compelled to see what she sees-trying as hard as she can, even if that means cradling a heartache as you live day by day waiting for your lover to come back.
Interestingly, this poem is its surreal quality and matter-of-fact tone, which gives us a glimpse into the narrator’s world and how her pain affects those close by. The first stanza begins with a descriptive image of the ocean, a metaphor for her heart. It appears to be seeking an answer or someone to care for it. And then, the second stanza reveals that there’s something personal about the ocean’s wants — it seems to want to know love itself. Thus, the ocean can be seen as a metaphor for the narrator’s search for self-fulfillment through another person. Still, it also reflects an almost tragic attempt to find fulfillment that another person cannot fulfill.
The third stanza is where I sense a change in tone. The ocean’s mood seems to shift from sadness to anger when it demands the cliff to move, insisting it open up, give way, and receive love in return. And at that moment, we suddenly see the ocean as a lovelorn woman: still searching for love but now demanding its presence.
The fourth stanza reveals that the ocean is not just looking outward anymore; she is looking inward. The same “she” searching for love transforms into a “she” who has lost her chance at love. Poetess continues to ask, but the ocean only becomes angrier — the ocean’s rage becomes an ocean’s pain. She wonders if she will ever find hope again, and she returns to her metaphor of the cliff because it is all she has left. The cliff represents the barrier between her and another person, letting her life or letting go of life itself.
The last stanza is where I sense a shift in tone again. The ocean becomes so desperate for someone to open up the barrier that only the cliff could, she begs. And for her, this isn’t just about finding love — it’s about finding someone to care for her. The ocean speaks directly to the author because she has lost hope in another person doing this. Her heart is full of longing, but she feels hopeless in finding someone who can love her. Poetess continues to ask for this in the poem because it’s all she has left in life.
The point that I get from this poem is that, even though you might think it’s just about the quest for love itself, there’s something more personal and symbolic about its desire than just looking outwardly. As an author, I love how it reflects on the author’s pain of losing her lover her own way. As someone I know is in the midst of an emotional love gone sour, I resonated with her anguish, frustration, and exhaustion. It’s incredible to see the artistic interpretation of something so personal.
Cinette Santangelo , thank you for being with us in the publication & thank you for giving us a moment to be a part of your ART. You are welcome to share another bit of your poetry through “The Power of Poetry” publication.
how to submit to “The Power of Poetry?”
Would you please clap and comment below this story? Then, you will be added to our list of poets. Starting is easy. Once you submit your work (poetry), we will contact you and publish it.
The Power of Poetry is a place to show the world your creativity, your imagination and passion for writing.
I am an Art Curator, founder at EvArtology, and ML consultant at MLearning.ai. I advise companies and institutions in the creative industries on using AI tools in their daily work. Human collaboration with ML models can be very creative and bring huge benefits. The new era begins now.
I love great women’s poetry 💚
