Love Song for Alex, 1979

1. B. The relationship has continued for “dozens” of years, so it is not new; it is currently ongoing as indicated by the present tense opening lines; the closing lines suggest that the relationship is interwoven with natural, seemingly timeless entities like the planets and the sea.

2. B. Those lines suggest that in days long past her lover’s kiss was extremely sweet, his lips often tasting of wine and warmed by lust—yet “fade blissfully” suggests she still feels happy upon accessing these faded memories.

3. D. The speaker connects “all [her] days of Happiness and wonder” (Line 8) to Alex and her relationship with him.

4. They “bear his rage” (Line 4). The phrase indicates that they “got” their anger from him. The proximity in the same line to the speaker’s mention of bearing her children suggests this connected meaning.

5. Their shared memories will tie or bind them together.