What is it like to love fiercely yet remain unseen? In Condemned to Love Without Being Loved, Nourredine Rahim captures the torment and beauty of unrequited love. This poignant poem explores the burning desire of a heart destined to love without reciprocation, weaving themes of passion, pain, and forbidden dreams. Read the poem and its analysis below to delve into the soul of impossible love.
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The Poem: Condemned to Love Without Being Loved
Condemned to Love Without Being Loved
Burning flame, ardent desire
Consuming my heart every moment
Your eyes are beacons in the night
Lighting my soul with sweet conflict
But this love is a thorny rose
Its divine petals, its fearful stem
The more I try to pick it with my hands
The more its thorns hurt me and pour out my sorrow
Condemned to love without being loved
In the silence of my thoughts entwined
I keep this flame deep
Burning for you, body and soul
A forbidden love, an impossible dream
In your arms would be so peaceful
But destiny decided otherwise
Depriving me of your love, for eternity
Nourredine Rahim | Poems of Perseverance
Discover more: Poem: Love Without Hope or Reciprocity
Analysis of the Poem
This poem is a raw and vivid exploration of unrequited love—a passion so intense it defies reason yet brings profound suffering when unreturned. Below, we analyze its key themes and imagery.
Mad Love’s Burning Flame
The poem opens with “Burning flame, ardent desire,” painting love as an uncontrollable fire that consumes the heart. This irrational force is both beautiful and destructive, as the beloved’s eyes “light the soul with sweet conflict.” The paradox of “sweet conflict” captures the joy and pain of loving without reciprocation.
The Thorny Rose of Non-Reciprocity
Love is likened to “a thorny rose”—alluring yet painful. Each attempt to grasp it wounds the lover, as “its thorns make my sorrow flow.” This imagery underscores the futility of pursuing a love that cannot be attained, deepening the speaker’s anguish.
Condemned to Silent Suffering
The refrain “Condemned to love without being loved” encapsulates the poem’s core tragedy. The speaker is trapped in silent devotion, keeping the flame “deep” within, “burning for you, body and soul.” This internalized suffering highlights the isolation of unrequited love.
Destiny’s Cruel Decree
The poem concludes with the stark reality of “a forbidden love, an impossible dream.” The speaker longs for peace in the beloved’s arms, but “destiny decided otherwise,” sealing their separation. This fatalistic tone underscores the powerlessness of the lover against external forces.
Author’s Note: As Nourredine Rahim, I wrote this poem to honor the silent struggles of those who love without being loved. In today’s world, where social media amplifies unspoken desires, unrequited love remains a universal ache—a fire that burns brightly yet leaves scars.
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