“Marking Time” by Owen Sheers: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Marking Time” by Owen Sheers

“Marking Time” by Owen Sheers, first appeared in his 2005 poetry collection Skirrid Hill, captures the complex emotions surrounding love and the passage of time, using the metaphor of lovers’ physical intimacy to explore deeper themes of memory, loss, and the transient nature of human connections. The central idea revolves around the tension between the fleeting moments of passion and the indelible marks they leave on one’s life. Sheers employs vivid imagery, such as the imprint of bodies on sheets, to evoke the physicality of love while also emphasizing its impermanence. The poem is characterized by its reflective tone and nuanced exploration of time’s impact on relationships, making it both intimate and universal in its themes.

Text: “Marking Time” by Owen Sheers

That mark upon your back is finally fading
in the way our memory will,
of that night our lust wouldn’t wait for bed
so laid us out upon the floor instead
where we worked up that scar —
two tattered flags flying from your spine’s mast,
a brand-burn secret in the small of your back.

I trace them now and feel the disturbance again.
The still waters of your skin broken, the volte engaging
as we make our marks like lovers who carve trees,
the equation of their names equalled by an arrow
that buckles under time but never leaves,
and so though changed, under the bark, the skin,
the loving scar remains.

Annotations: “Marking Time” by Owen Sheers

Line	Annotation
“That mark upon your back is finally fading”	Metaphor: The fading mark symbolizes the inevitable passage of time and the gradual fading of memories. The mark also represents the physical and emotional imprint of their love.
“in the way our memory will,”	Simile: The comparison between the fading mark and memory emphasizes the transient nature of both physical and emotional experiences. Time erodes memories, just as the scar fades.
“of that night our lust wouldn’t wait for bed”	Enjambment and Personification: Lust is personified as something uncontrollable, reflecting the spontaneity and urgency of desire. The lack of punctuation drives the narrative forward, mirroring the impulsiveness of the act.
“so laid us out upon the floor instead”	Imagery: The physical placement on the floor emphasizes the raw, primal nature of their desire, contrasting with the more traditional association of bed with intimacy.
“where we worked up that scar”	Metaphor: The “scar” here metaphorically represents the physical and emotional marks left by love. It suggests that intense experiences leave permanent traces, even if the surface heals.
“two tattered flags flying from your spine’s mast”	Metaphor and Symbolism: The “tattered flags” symbolize the scars as a sign of vulnerability and wear, while the “spine’s mast” evokes imagery of a ship, suggesting strength and the ability to endure through the storms of time.
“a brand-burn secret in the small of your back”	Oxymoron and Imagery: The phrase “brand-burn secret” combines pain (“brand-burn”) with intimacy (“secret”). This paradox highlights the idea that love can be both painful and private, leaving behind marks hidden from view.
“I trace them now and feel the disturbance again.”	Repetition of Sensation: The act of tracing the scars brings back the emotional intensity of the past. The “disturbance” suggests that while time has passed, the feelings associated with the scars remain potent.
“The still waters of your skin broken, the volte engaging”	Metaphor: “Still waters” represents calm, unmarked skin, while “broken” reflects how love disturbs this calm. The term “volte” refers to a sudden change in direction, mirroring the disruption love causes in life.
“as we make our marks like lovers who carve trees,”	Simile and Allusion: The comparison to lovers carving their initials into trees alludes to the tradition of creating lasting symbols of love, yet the poem acknowledges that time affects these marks.
“the equation of their names equalled by an arrow”	Metaphor: The “equation” of names represents the symbolic unity of lovers, and the “arrow” evokes Cupid’s arrow, symbolizing love. However, the arrow also hints at vulnerability, as arrows can wound.
“that buckles under time but never leaves,”	Personification: Time is depicted as a force that weakens (“buckles”) but cannot entirely erase the marks of love. This line emphasizes the resilience of love’s impact, even as it is altered by time.
“and so though changed, under the bark, the skin,”	Metaphor and Imagery: “Bark” and “skin” are metaphors for the surface of both trees and people. This line suggests that while appearances may change, deeper emotions and experiences remain embedded.
“the loving scar remains.”	Oxymoron: The juxtaposition of “loving” and “scar” captures the poem’s central theme: that love, while beautiful, often leaves behind emotional scars that endure even as the relationship evolves or fades.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Marking Time” by Owen Sheers

Device	Definition	Example from the Poem	Explanation
Alliteration	Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.	“two tattered flags flying from your spine’s mast”	The repetition of the “t” and “f” sounds creates a rhythmic, almost musical quality, reinforcing the image of vulnerability and strength represented by the scars.
Allusion	A reference to another text, event, or symbol.	“like lovers who carve trees”	Refers to the tradition of lovers carving their initials into trees, symbolizing lasting love.
Ambiguity	Use of language with multiple meanings or interpretations.	“the loving scar remains”	The “scar” can represent both the physical and emotional impacts of love, leaving room for multiple interpretations.
Assonance	Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.	“laid us out upon the floor instead”	The repetition of the “a” and “o” sounds creates a soft, rhythmic quality, enhancing the sense of intimacy.
Consonance	Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words.	“brand-burn secret in the small of your back”	The repeated “r” and “b” sounds enhance the intensity of the imagery, evoking the sense of physical branding.
Enjambment	The continuation of a sentence or phrase beyond the end of a line.	“of that night our lust wouldn’t wait for bed / so laid us out”	The lack of punctuation between lines reflects the urgency of their actions, mirroring the flow of passion.
Imagery	Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.	“two tattered flags flying from your spine’s mast”	Vivid imagery conveys the scars as visual symbols of both vulnerability (tattered) and resilience (mast).
Irony	A contrast between expectation and reality.	“loving scar”	The phrase contrasts the tenderness of “loving” with the pain of a “scar,” highlighting love’s dual nature.
Juxtaposition	Placing two elements close together for contrasting effect.	“two tattered flags”	The juxtaposition of “tattered” with “flags” suggests fragility in something traditionally viewed as a symbol of strength.
Metaphor	A direct comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as.”	“The still waters of your skin broken”	Compares skin to “still waters,” representing calmness disrupted by passion, evoking both physical and emotional disturbance.
Oxymoron	A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms.	“loving scar”	Combines the opposing ideas of love and a scar, emphasizing the paradox of love leaving painful yet cherished marks.
Paradox	A statement that seems contradictory but may reveal a deeper truth.	“The loving scar remains.”	The paradox lies in how a painful scar can also be a symbol of love that endures, suggesting complexity in love’s impact.
Personification	Assigning human characteristics to non-human entities.	“lust wouldn’t wait for bed”	Lust is given human qualities, portraying it as an impatient force that drives the lovers to act without control.
Repetition	Reuse of words or phrases for emphasis.	“that night… that scar”	Repetition emphasizes the importance of the night and the lasting emotional impact of the scar, giving weight to memory and experience.
Rhetorical Question	A question asked for effect, not meant to be answered.	Implicit in the reflective tone of the poem	While not posed as a direct question, the poem invites reflection on the permanence of love’s marks without providing explicit answers.
Simile	A comparison using “like” or “as.”	“like lovers who carve trees”	Compares the lovers’ scars to marks carved into trees, symbolizing their attempt to create something permanent.
Symbolism	Using objects or actions to represent ideas or concepts.	“scar”	The scar symbolizes the lasting impact of love, representing both physical and emotional permanence despite change.
Synecdoche	A figure of speech where a part represents the whole.	“your spine’s mast”	The “spine’s mast” refers to the spine as a symbol of strength, representing the lover’s physical and emotional endurance.
Volta	A shift or turn in thought or argument.	“The still waters of your skin broken, the volte engaging”	The volta (Italian for “turn”) shifts from a calm reflection to a deeper exploration of the lasting emotional scars left by love.
Wordplay	Playful use of language for effect.	“equation of their names equalled by an arrow”	The use of “equation” and “arrow” plays with language, suggesting both a mathematical unity and the idea of Cupid’s arrow, blending logic with emotion.

Themes: “Marking Time” by Owen Sheers

• The Physical and Emotional Imprints of Love: “Marking Time” delves deeply into the idea that love, particularly physical love, leaves both visible and invisible marks on individuals. The physical scars referenced in the poem, such as the “two tattered flags flying from your spine’s mast,” serve as symbols of the emotional and physical impact of intimacy. These marks are described as permanent, even as they fade with time, mirroring how emotional experiences linger long after the moment has passed. The poem emphasizes that love is not fleeting; it leaves an indelible mark, both literally on the body and figuratively on the soul.
• The Transience of Passion and Memory: A recurring theme in the poem is the fleeting nature of both physical passion and memory. The line, “That mark upon your back is finally fading / in the way our memory will,” highlights how intense experiences, though vivid in the moment, inevitably blur over time. Sheers draws a parallel between the physical fading of the scars and the gradual erosion of memory, suggesting that, while the moments of passion were once immediate and urgent, they are not immune to the passage of time. This reinforces the idea that even the strongest emotions and experiences are subject to change.
• Time and Its Effects on Relationships: The title “Marking Time” itself suggests a meditation on time’s role in love and relationships. Throughout the poem, time is presented as a force that alters, but does not entirely erase, the effects of love. For example, in the lines, “the equation of their names equalled by an arrow / that buckles under time but never leaves,” time is depicted as bending the marks of love, symbolized by the arrow, but not removing them. This demonstrates that while relationships and feelings evolve and may weaken under time’s influence, the core memories and emotions remain embedded.
• Love as a Source of Both Pleasure and Pain: The poem explores the dual nature of love, presenting it as both a beautiful and painful experience. The scars described in the poem are both a result of intimate passion and a reminder of its emotional cost. The oxymoron “loving scar” encapsulates this duality, emphasizing that while love brings pleasure, it also leaves behind wounds that endure. The description of the scar as “a brand-burn secret in the small of your back” suggests a hidden pain that persists, even after the moment of intimacy has passed, highlighting the complex, bittersweet nature of love.

Literary Theories and “Marking Time” by Owen Sheers

Literary Theory	Application to “Marking Time”	References from the Poem
Psychoanalytic Theory	This theory focuses on unconscious desires, repressed emotions, and the human psyche’s complexities. In “Marking Time,” the speaker’s reflection on the scars represents a deeper exploration of the unconscious impact of love and intimacy. The scars are symbolic of emotional wounds and repressed memories, with the speaker continually revisiting and tracing them, suggesting unresolved emotions.	“I trace them now and feel the disturbance again” — this line indicates the ongoing psychological disturbance and emotional imprint of past love.
Feminist Theory	Feminist criticism could examine the portrayal of the physical body, particularly the female body, as a site where love and power dynamics are inscribed. The poem presents the body as marked by both pleasure and pain, potentially reflecting power imbalances in intimate relationships. Feminist theory would explore how the woman’s body becomes a canvas for the male speaker’s emotions and desires, and how that can reflect broader social norms regarding gender and love.	“That mark upon your back is finally fading” — the fading mark on the woman’s back can symbolize how a woman’s body bears the impact of relationships, often as a passive recipient of the male gaze and desire.
Post-Structuralism	Post-structuralism challenges fixed meanings and embraces ambiguity and multiplicity in interpretation. In “Marking Time,” the poem plays with the concepts of time, memory, and the body, using language that suggests instability and change. The use of metaphors like “scar” and “mark” represents shifting meanings—these physical marks are both signs of love and of pain, and they change over time, reflecting the fluid nature of identity and experience.	“The loving scar remains” — this line embodies the ambiguity of meaning, where the scar is a symbol of both love and trauma, challenging a single interpretation.

Critical Questions about “Marking Time” by Owen Sheers

• How does “Marking Time” explore the relationship between physicality and emotional memory?
• The poem intertwines physical scars with emotional memory, suggesting that physical acts of love leave a lasting impression not only on the body but also on the mind. The line “That mark upon your back is finally fading / in the way our memory will” draws a parallel between the fading of physical marks and the gradual erosion of memory. This raises the question of whether emotional scars, much like physical ones, truly fade with time or if they remain hidden beneath the surface. The poem seems to suggest that even though these marks may no longer be visible, they continue to affect the individuals involved, implying a deep connection between physicality and lasting emotional memory.
• In what ways does “Marking Time” address the concept of time and its impact on relationships?
• The poem’s title, “Marking Time,” immediately brings attention to the role of time in shaping and altering relationships. Throughout the poem, time is depicted as a force that both changes and preserves. In the line, “the equation of their names equalled by an arrow / that buckles under time but never leaves,” Sheers presents time as something that weakens the visible signs of love but cannot entirely erase them. This invites the question of how time alters the intensity of love and whether the marks of love are ever truly lost. Does the poem suggest that love’s impact is eternal, or does time inevitably erode even the most passionate connections?
• What role does the body play as a site of emotional experience in “Marking Time”?
• The poem uses the body as a canvas upon which emotional experiences are etched. The scars on the lover’s back, described as “two tattered flags flying from your spine’s mast,” symbolize the physical consequences of love, but also the emotional weight carried by the body. This raises the question of whether the body is simply a passive recipient of these emotional experiences or an active participant in the creation of meaning. The marks on the body may fade, but the emotional “scar” remains, suggesting that the body holds onto these experiences in ways that words or memory cannot fully express.
• How does “Marking Time” challenge traditional notions of love and intimacy?
• In “Marking Time,” love is portrayed not as an idealized, purely joyful experience but as something that is complex and marked by both pleasure and pain. The line “loving scar remains” encapsulates this tension, presenting love as something that leaves behind lasting, sometimes painful marks. This challenges traditional, romanticized views of love by introducing the idea that love is inherently linked to vulnerability and suffering. The poem encourages readers to question whether love can exist without these emotional scars, and whether intimacy always carries with it the potential for both connection and emotional injury.

Literary Works Similar to “Marking Time” by Owen Sheers

1. “Love After Love” by Derek Walcott
   Both poems explore the aftermath of love and how time shapes and alters relationships, focusing on self-reflection and emotional memory.
2. “When We Two Parted” by Lord Byron
   This poem, like “Marking Time,” deals with the lingering emotional scars and pain left behind by a past relationship.
3. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot
   Eliot’s poem similarly reflects on love, time, and regret, with a focus on how intimate experiences leave lasting emotional imprints.
4. “Meeting at Night” by Robert Browning
   Browning’s poem shares the theme of physical passion and the fleeting nature of romantic encounters, similar to the urgency seen in Sheers’ work.
5. “Funeral Blues” by W.H. Auden
   Like “Marking Time,” this poem highlights the emotional weight of love and loss, focusing on how love leaves a permanent mark even after separation.

Representative Quotations of “Marking Time” by Owen Sheers

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“That mark upon your back is finally fading”	Refers to the physical scar left from an intimate encounter, symbolizing how memories and experiences fade over time.	Psychoanalytic Theory: The fading scar reflects repressed memories and the unconscious mind’s difficulty in letting go of past emotional experiences.
“in the way our memory will”	Compares the fading of the scar to the fading of emotional memory, drawing attention to the transient nature of both.	Post-Structuralism: Memory is unstable, constantly shifting and altering, which challenges fixed notions of emotional permanence.
“of that night our lust wouldn’t wait for bed”	Describes the urgency and spontaneity of the lovers’ physical passion.	Feminist Theory: This urgency could be analyzed through the lens of power dynamics, questioning how desire influences gender roles in intimate relationships.
“two tattered flags flying from your spine’s mast”	The scars are compared to flags, symbolizing both the fragility and strength of the relationship.	Symbolism: The “tattered flags” symbolize vulnerability and the emotional battle scars of love, signifying the endurance of intimate experiences.
“a brand-burn secret in the small of your back”	Describes the scar as a hidden yet permanent reminder of their passionate encounter.	Psychoanalytic Theory: The “brand-burn” represents the deep emotional wounds left by love, symbolizing the lasting effect of repressed desires.
“I trace them now and feel the disturbance again”	The speaker revisits the emotional intensity of the past through the act of touching the scars.	Phenomenology: The act of tracing the scars evokes lived experience, highlighting the relationship between the body and memory.
“as we make our marks like lovers who carve trees”	Compares the scars left on the lover’s body to the tradition of carving initials in trees, symbolizing lasting love.	Romanticism: The simile invokes nature and timeless love, reflecting the romantic ideal of creating something permanent from fleeting passion.
“the equation of their names equalled by an arrow”	Suggests a symbolic unity between the lovers, represented by an arrow, which is a common symbol of love.	Structuralism: The “equation” of names and the “arrow” point to the use of symbols and signs within cultural codes of love.
“that buckles under time but never leaves”	Time weakens the physical symbols of love, but it does not completely erase them.	Deconstruction: Challenges the permanence of love by showing how time weakens but does not entirely remove emotional marks, reflecting instability.
“the loving scar remains”	The final line reflects the lasting emotional and physical impact of the relationship, despite its changes over time.	Psychoanalytic Theory: The “scar” represents the unresolved emotional trauma that remains embedded in the subconscious mind, even after healing.

Suggested Readings: “Marking Time” by Owen Sheers

1. Sheers, Owen. “Poetry and Place: Some Personal Reflections.” Geography, vol. 93, no. 3, 2008, pp. 172–75. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40574282. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.
2. Nelson, Helena. Ambit, no. 183, 2006, pp. 83–83. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44337046. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.
3. Sheers, Owen. “Learning the Language.” The Poetry Ireland Review, no. 62, 1999, pp. 49–49. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25579418. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.
4. Bessant, Leslie. The International Journal of African Historical Studies, vol. 37, no. 3, 2004, pp. 581–82. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/4129064. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.