Comparing Hate Poem And Bitch

“I hate him. Except for all the places where I love him half to death” (Charlotte Stein). Love can be confusing, and both of these works show a unique way of love and hate. The “Hate Poem” by Julie Sheehan and “Bitch” by Carolyn Kizer are similar in their characterization and tone of authors, yet different in their metaphors, and point of view. Both poems show that intensity and passion is needed, regardless if one loves or hates. Although love can be deceiving, is better to have love than never have love at all.

First, similarity between both works is characterization. Julie Sheehan expresses herself with love and hate towards the person who she’s writhing about, “You know how when I’m sleepy I nuzzle my head under your arm? Hate” (704, 17). The quotation shows that she’s upset, but loves the warmth of his arms. At the same time Carolyn Kizer demonstrate similar characteristics by showing rage of hate, but then softens up with the memory of her past lover. “At a kind word from him, a look like the old days,

The bitch changes her tone; she begins to whimper.

She wants to snuggle up to him, to cringe” (939, 10-12).

The author expresses how devoted she feels about her past lover, and one touch could change everything. The second similarity is the authors tone. “Hate Poem” by Julie Sheehan,

“My lungs, duplicitous twins, expand with the utter validity

of my hate, which can never have enough of you,

Breathlessly, like two idealists in a broken submarine” (704, 20-22).

At the end of the poem Sheehan shows how much she desires and loves him. In the other poem Kizer shows a similarity in her tone, towards the past lover. After all, I am her mistress. She is basically loyal.

It’s just that she remembers how she came

running
Each evening, when she heard his step;
How she lay at his feet and looked up adoringly
Though he was absorbed in his paper;
Or, bored with her devotion, ordered her to the kitchen
Until he was ready to play (16-23).
Kizer describes her devotion to him by waiting on hand and foot for his affection.
Next, both authors use metaphors, but show different aspects to describe their hate. Sheehan paints a picture of the hate towards the boyfriend, as an annoying lint digging on her. The blue-green jewel of sock lint I’m digging
from under my third toenail, left foot, hates you.(8),
the hate is so strong that even the smallest part of her body hates him. In contrast Kizer describes the bitch as a female dog.
Now, when he and I meet, after all these years,
I say to the bitch inside me, don’t start growling.
He isn’t a trespasser anymore,
Just an old acquaintance tipping his hat.
My voice says, “Nice to see you,”
As the bitch starts to bark hysterically.
Kizer uses the female doge as the inner voice to express her rage towards the ex lover. The second difference is point of view of both authors. Sheehan expresses her obsession through layers of hatred,
“The history of this keychain hates you.
My sigh in the background as you explain relational databases
hates you”(Sheehan 9-10).
Sheehan point of view shows the frustration she has with her boyfriend, and how she filled with hatred and love. On the other hand, Kizer’s point of view is between a rocky relationship between a past lover.
“It’s nice to know you are doing so well,” I say.
He couldn’t have taken you with him;
You were too demonstrative, too clumsy,
Not like the well-groomed pets of his new friends.
“Give my regards to your wife,” I say”(28-32).
Kizer describes the struggles with her ex lover, conveying the experience of her inner Bitch.
To conclude, love can feel wonderful or bring out the worst in a person. There’s a thin line between love and hate; in both of these poems they struggle with their inner self, between love and hate. “No one can hate you more than someone who used to love you” (Rick Riordan).