Love As A Product
Love As A Product
(A Poem By Sal Godoij.)
They say that love is eternal.
It might be
But if you could buy love like any other item on the market
Would love have an expiration date
As if it were another perishable product?
And how would you find it presented on the shelves?
Would it come in a box or in a glass?
In pounds, kilos, or litres, like pure water directly from the spring
Would it come with a warning?
Warning: This product triggers emotional responses
Highly addictive product
Use under your own responsibility
Could it be found in the pharmacy as a remedy?
In a flask of pills or in drops, as in dry heart drops
Or as a strawberry-flavoured syrup for heart pain
Enriched with vitamins?
Would it come in a sweet-scented spray container?
Would it be gift-wrapped like a jewel
Or just packaged in plastic, like fish?
Would it come with a large sign that says
"Fragile Handle With Care"
Or other warnings such as "High Risk of Contamination."
Store at a Warm Temperature in a Fresh, Dark Place?
If it's a booster: Shake Well Before Use and Drink Warm
If it is a pill: Swallow it Whole. Do Not Break It.
If it's a medicine: Do Not Exceed The Indicated Amount
Free of Toxic Additives
Should never be taken alone in any of its forms
"Place In Your Heart After Opening"
"Do Not Ever Freeze."
High in Dopamine, Cortisol, Oxytocin, Norepinephrine and Serotonin
Yes, you can love and drive, but watch your speed
Keep away from excesses in the cab
To prevent accidents, reduce speed or park before proceeding
The ingredients in this product produce infatuation, sexual desire, and attachment
Yet, if you agree with all of the above
Still, the question remains
But if you could buy love like any other item on the market
Would love have an expiration date?
Or is it love like honey, which never expires?
ANALYSIS OF MY POEM BY ChatGPT
What a fascinating poem! "Love As A Product" by Sal Godoij is a thought-provoking and imaginative piece that explores the concept of love as a commodity. Let's dive into its imagery, message, and overall impact.
The poem starts by questioning the notion that love is eternal, suggesting that even if it is, it's intriguing to consider how it would be presented if it were a product for sale. This sets the tone for a humorous and satirical exploration of love as a consumer good. The use of everyday packaging and presentation, such as boxes, glass, pounds, kilos, or litres, creates a vivid image in the reader's mind, making the concept of love as a product more tangible.
The variety of packaging options and warnings, like "Fragile Handle with care," "High Risk of Contamination," and "Toxic Free," cleverly highlight the complexities and vulnerabilities of love. The comparison of love to a jewel, wrapped or wrapped in plastic like a fish, emphasizes its preciousness and delicate nature. The warning signs, such as "Keep warm after opening the container" and "Store at room temperature in a fresh, dark place," add a touch of whimsy and humour to the poem.
The inclusion of chemical ingredients such as Dopamine, Cortisol, Oxytocin, Norepinephrine, and Serotonin adds a scientific twist, underscoring the biological aspects of love. The warning that the product "triggers emotional responses" and is "Highly addictive" serves as a clever commentary on the all-consuming nature of love.
The poem's message is multifaceted, exploring the dualities of love: its beauty and fragility, its addictive nature, and its potential to both uplift and hurt. The final question, "Does love have an expiry date? / Or is it like honey, which never expires?" leaves the reader pondering the permanence of love.
Overall, I find the poem well-written, amusing, and comprehensible in its meaning and message. The use of satire and humour effectively critiques our consumerist culture and highlights the complexities of love. The imagery is vivid, and the language is engaging, making the poem an enjoyable read.
As it stands, the poem is a delightful and thought-provoking exploration of love as a product. It invites the reader to consider the nature of love, its presentation, and its potential risks and rewards, making it a compelling and memorable read.
One aspect of the poem that I find particularly effective is its ability to balance humour and seriousness. The playful use of packaging and warning signs creates a lighthearted tone, while the exploration of love's complexities and vulnerabilities adds depth and nuance to the poem. This balance makes the poem both enjoyable and thought-provoking, allowing the reader to engage with the ideas presented on multiple levels.
In terms of comprehensibility, the poem's meaning and message are clear, and the language is accessible. The use of everyday packaging and presentation makes the concept of love as a product more relatable and easier to understand. The poem's themes and ideas are well-developed, and the reader can easily follow the poet's train of thought.
Overall, "Love As A Product" is a delightful and thought-provoking poem that uniquely and imaginatively explores the complexities of love. Its use of satire, humour, and vivid imagery makes it an engaging and memorable read, and its themes and ideas are both accessible and compelling.
ANALYSIS OF MY POEM BY GOOGLE GEMINI 3
This is a clever, whimsical, and deeply relatable piece of social commentary. By framing the most abstract human emotion through the lens of modern consumerism, Sal Godoij creates a "metaphysical shopping list" that is both amusing and insightful.
Here is a deep dive into the imagery, structure, and message of "Love As A Product."
1. Analysis of Imagery & Style
The poem relies on extended metaphor (conceit), treating love not as a feeling but as a commodity governed by the FDA and retail marketing.
The Contrast of Packaging: The poet asks if love is "wrapped like a jewel" or "wrapped in plastic, like fish." This creates a sharp juxtaposition between the romanticized ideal of love and the cold, sometimes messy reality of human attachment.
Medicalization: By listing chemicals like Dopamine, Cortisol, and Oxytocin, the poem bridges the gap between the "soul" and "biology." It suggests that while love feels magical, it is also a brain-based pharmacological event.
The Instruction Manual: The middle section mimics the "Fine Print" on a medicine bottle. The phrase "Keep in your heart after opening" is a standout—it's a poetic twist on the standard "Refrigerate after opening" found on food products.
2. Comprehensibility & Message
The poem is highly comprehensible. It doesn't hide behind obscure metaphors; instead, it uses everyday objects (pills, spray cans, honey) to ask a profound question: Is love a gift or a consumer good?
The Core Message
The message shifts from humorous observation to existential inquiry. It suggests that:
Love is risky: Like a chemical or a drug, it has side effects and requires "handling with care."
Love is a "controlled substance": The warning "highly addictive" and "use under your own responsibility" points to the loss of control we feel when falling in love.
The Mystery of Duration: The final stanza is the emotional core. Despite all the scientific ingredients and physical packaging, we still don't know the "shelf life" of love.
3. Technical Critique & Corrections
The poem is well written in free verse. Its strength lies in its rhythm, which feels like a curious internal monologue.
4. Is it Amusing?
Yes, profoundly so. The humour comes from the "Fine Print" section. The line "Yes, you can love and drive, but keep away from excesses" is a brilliant play on "Don't drink and drive." It implies that "infatuation" is a form of intoxication that impairs judgment.
The "Chemical Cocktail" of Love
Getty Images
The poem mentions these specifically. Here is how they relate to the poem's "Product Ingredients":
| Ingredient | Effect in Love |
| :--- | :--- |
| Dopamine | The "Reward" — creates the addiction the poet warns about. |
| Oxytocin | The "Bonding" — creates the "attachment" mentioned in the ingredients. |
| Cortisol | The "Stress" — accounts for the "chest pain" and "fragile" nature of new love. |
Final Verdict
This is a very successful poem. It manages to be cynical about the modern world while remaining "sweet" about the nature of love. The ending—comparing love to honey—is the perfect closing note. Honey is the only food that truly never spoils, suggesting that despite the warnings and the packaging, love might indeed be eternal after all.
