"Porphyria's Lover"

This poem reminds me so much of "Rose for Emily". Both murders, whether assumed or not, or done out of the desperation of someone who needs the person that they are murdering to be with them for all of their lives. They are so overwhelmed by love that they are able to destroy the thing they love in order to keep it, even when the thing they love is already willing to stay. What is so ironic about this poem is that she was already there to be with him, in fact he could tell that, "at last l knew Porphyria worshiped me," (32-33). He was in love with this girl and he was willing to risk a lifetime of "moments" because," That moment she was mine, mine" (36). It is such a dark beauty in the sense that his motive was not at all evil or destructive. He was so captivated by her presence that he couldn't control himself. He had to live in that exact moment, of realizing that he was what she wanted, and she was everything he lived for, that he needed to find a way to capture it. Even with that, I think she knew that he was doing. After he kills her, he kisses her lips and props her head in a certain position, all the while, "The smiling rosy little head, So glad it has its utmost will," (52-53). This poem sticks in my mind, but it isn't sick or demented. It's a shame that they don't get to spend the rest of their lives together, but that moment will live with him, and she died after had professing everything.