To Be in Love

“To Be in Love” is a poem of 32 lines, written in free verse, divided into 12 stanzas of unequal lines. Brooks employs uneven line length and syllable count. There is no definitive rhyming pattern, although there is occasional internal and end rhyming, particularly in Stanza 3 and the penultimate couplet. Rhyme when used serves a purpose in exploring emotion. During the period of unity for the couple, there is a heavy use of rhyme, particularly those words which rhyme with “you” (Lines 4-11), giving a cooing echo of closeness. Later, when the speaker can’t stop thinking about telling the beloved how they feel, the rhyme of “apprize” (Line 29) to “mesmerize” (Line 30) suggests the speaker’s loop of thought.

As a lyric poem, its organization is based on the flow of emotion rather than a narrative trajectory. We don’t know the history of the two people involved or what led them to their liaison. The setting is amorphous, without specific location. Instead, the emotions of the speaker are given paramount attention and the poem is driven forward by the speaker’s desire to declare their need.