In Robert Creeley’s first collection of poems, For Love, the intricate exploration of love emerges against a backdrop of uncertainty and solitude. At the heart of this collection, the poem “A Form of Women” offers a rich tapestry of emotions, encapsulating the multifaceted nature of love. While the poems are not interwoven in a strict sequence, they collectively illuminate each other, progressing from an underlying anger to a more serene lyricism. This progression reflects Creeley's journey toward a sense of grace, a theme poetically captured in his later work, “Oh Love,” from the collection Mirrors, published in 1983, which exclaims, “Oh love,/ like nothing else on earth!”

The latter part of For Love shifts towards expressions of gratitude, celebrating the complexities of love and domesticity. Yet, nestled in the middle of the collection, “A Form of Women” stands as a contemplative piece, projecting the intricate possibilities within relationships. This particular poem encapsulates the struggles and aspirations inherent in the quest for love, a theme that resonates throughout Creeley's work. The poems within For Love collectively strive to understand and articulate the essence of love, casting light on the varied emotional landscapes that define human connections.

The essence of love's transformative power is vividly captured in the seventh stanza of the poem, where physical attributes like the face, hands, and mouth no longer suffice to encapsulate the self. These features, though deeply personal, seem inadequate to express the newfound depth within the poet's consciousness—a depth that the poet attributes to the relationship with another. This connection has seemingly added "a thousand years" to his very being, suggesting an expansion of identity that transcends individual existence.

Love's ability to transcend abstract notions of existence and manifest the tangible presence of another is a source of profound fulfillment for the poet. Yet, this transformation is not without its challenges. The poem reveals the tension between the promise of love and the frustrations inherent in the poet’s specific relationship. This struggle is poignantly encapsulated in the phrase "hands unreasonable," where the poet's yearning to physically connect remains unfulfilled, causing a palpable sense of longing and pain.

The poem is imbued with a tension that underscores love's dual nature: its potential for both boundless promise and deep-seated frustration. This paradox is what renders love so captivating. The poet’s uncertainty is crystallized in the universal question, “Do you love me,” posed in the final stanza. This inquiry highlights the intertwined nature of uncertainty and necessity, revealing them as inseparable forces within the experience of love.

At the poem's core lies a profound mystery, embodied in the poet's struggle to comprehend his desire—"very much to/ touch you/ but could not." This internal conflict reflects a fundamental aspect of human experience: the quest to understand the barriers that stand in the way of complete intimacy and connection. Through this exploration, the poet captures the enigmatic and transformative power of love, a force that reshapes the self and challenges the boundaries of individual existence.

The poem “The Form of Women” is a profound exploration of self-awareness and the complexities of love. It captures the poet's introspective journey toward understanding his own psyche, a necessary step before he can truly contribute to a meaningful relationship. The narrative unfolds from the perspective of an "I" who has long "thought," "watched," and "wanted," yet has remained unable "to touch." These verbs illustrate an internal struggle, a testament to love expressed through language rather than action. This linguistic act of love is imbued with optimism, suggesting that the imaginative mind can combat the ominous "stench" of darkness that threatens to engulf it.

Embedded within the poem is a yearning for deeper commitment, hindered by the poet's realization that comfort with oneself is a prerequisite for extending love to another. This introspection reveals a paradox: true self-understanding comes through the love of another. The poem encapsulates this realization in the poignant moment when the declaration "I love you" empowers the poet to vulnerably ask, "Do you love me?" This question resonates with the mingling of hopeful anticipation and the persistent shadow of doubt, which lingers as the poem draws to a close.