The Thing Is
to love life, to love it even
when you have no stomach for it
The title reads as the first line in the poem, introducing the point that one must choose to love life no matter what the circumstances. Bass is well-known for the open and conversational voices in her poems, and "The Thing Is" is no exception. The phrase "the thing is" is commonly used to introduce explanations or issues, and the issue at hand (loving life) is communicated through simple language. For most people, choosing to love life even while experiencing grief might seem an impossible feat, and so the use of simple language juxtaposes this difficulty.
To not have a stomach for something is a figure of speech that communicates extreme reluctance. As a physical organ, the stomach is responsible for continuing to break down food so that nutrients can later be absorbed. Metaphorically, then, not having a stomach for something suggests a disruption in metabolizing (taking in and dealing with) the events of one's life.
when grief weights you down like your own flesh
only more of it, an obesity of grief,
you think, How can a body withstand this?
The speaker continues to describe the experience of grief using vivid imagery and figurative language. Comparing grief to flesh is a very physical equivalence that everyone can relate to because they have a body. Even if a person generally feels light in his or her body, everyone experiences days when they feel heavy and exhausted by the circumstances of life. The line "only more of it, an obesity of grief" demonstrates the immense weight that a grieving person carries. It is at this point that the speaker alludes to how overwhelming grief can feel: the mind begins to shut down and wonder how the body can handle the weight. The use of italics not only illustrates a thought; it also marks a turning point in the poem where the tension culminates. The poem changes direction after this volta.
Then you hold life like a facebetween your palms, a plain face,no charming smile, no violet eyes,and you say, yes, I will take youI will love you, again.
The final lines of the poem elaborate on the instruction given in the first lines: "to love life, to love it even / when you have no stomach for it." Life is personified as having a face with no extraordinary or distinguishing features: "no charming smile, no violet eyes." A charming smile could indicate an easygoing nature, and "violet eyes" are a rare mark of beauty and perhaps even royalty. That life is "plain" might make it harder for some people to choose to love it, but the speaker maintains that choosing to love life is the way to withstand the weight of grief and live well.
Bass uses repetition in these last lines: the words "face," "no," and "I will" occur in quick succession. This creates a soothing sense of rhythm in the poem, as if the speaker is assuring the reader that choosing to love life will help lessen the weight of grief.
