The structure of the poem is in free verse. The first three stanzas are two lines, the next two, five lines and the last four, three lines. The first three stanzas are shorter than the rest and give this idea that Mr Cogito and his lover are in a very peaceful atmosphere, a sweet moment. However, the next two stanzas, which are the longest, show the persona’s thoughts and contradict with the peaceful atmosphere by adding some mystery. The last four stanzas of three lines evoke the peaceful atmosphere again, but with a hint of mystery, as to what the persona is exactly feeling. Enjambment is use all the time in this poem, “once again/he notices with amazement” emphasises the “once again” by having a break between the two, and evokes this idea that the persona has already had this feeling before, that he is not acting, or thinking, the way he should be.
There is no set rhythm pattern in the poem, and the speed varies with the different lengths of the sentences. The lack of punctuations, usually used to quicken the pace at which the poem should be read, has the opposite effect because of enjambment, which breaks our pace. The sentence “and he goes away/alone” emphasizes the word “alone”, which makes the persona seem rather lonely. However, I also think that this lack of punctuations, although it does not quicken the pace so much, highlights this idea that the poem is mainly the persona’s thought, and therefore appears as a flash to the reader.
The effect of the language implied is different from what it should be. The language used is quite simple, such as “strange”, or “gently”. However, this simple vocabulary involves more complex imagery. The lack of pronouns makes it very vague who the “sleeping head” is. Words used such as “warm” and “touch” are tactile, and remind this peaceful aspect of “tenderness”. In the second stanza, the fact that “only touch sees it” could imply that it is at night, which could bring this sense of mystery on why the persona is awake at that time. When he says that he notices with “amazement” that there is someone outside of him, I think he means that he is surprised that there is something about him that is insensible to that “tenderness” and “impenetrable” of any human feelings, which “once again”, makes him slightly uncomfortable. Stanza 5 and 6 are unclear. I think the persona is talking about his feelings towards his lover. His “limits/which open” for a short moment before that “someone” outside of him, “casts it up”, in my opinion, means is that there is something that blocks him from going further with his lover, described here as the “rocky shore”, and that a part of him knows that something is wrong. He wants to share something with his lover, but clearly show that it isn’t the case by describing the “warm […] head” as having its “own blood” and “own skin”. He repeats “strange” twice in the poem, when talking about his lover, which bring again this sense of mystery in the poem. The word “alone” represented on its own in the second to last line emphasizes the lonely atmosphere.
In conclusion, we can see how the poet uses complex imagery and opposite effects to show this sense of confusion and loneliness. As the word ‘alienation’ in the title emphasizes, the persona feels isolated and not sharing something with his lover that he should be. The fact that the poet made the poem quite vague makes us think more deeply about the persona’s way of thinking, and it leaves us with this quick image of the scene: A man with his lover at night, thinking that something is wrong with him, or his lover.
