Henri Cole - Kayaks

When I first read this poem, something inside of me took interest, however I did not fully understand what was being described in the poem. Then I realized after reading it a couple times how it talks about such a beautiful sight. The kayak cutting across the water with the sun reflecting off the lake, the same rays passing through the observer. However, the observer is disconnected from the scene, not able to differentiate between promises and pity, yet blames no but there self for this. “Though the failure is not in the other, but in me because I am tired, hurt or bitter.” Love is compared to a beautiful, even perfect, scene that they are on the outside looking in at. They lost this love because of their disconnection from this sight. The disconnection from this moment, from that feeling, is felt strongly through the poem.