Loss is a part of life that every individual must face, whether it is a devastating loss, such as the death of a loved one or the loss of something that is become so familiar, perhaps a relation from a friend. The next two poems, "One Flesh" by Elizabeth Jennings and "On My First Son", describe a loss felt by each poet, in which they describe the emotions and emptiness they see when these losses occur. “One Flesh” explores an elderly couple’s relationship and how it changes over time. The image created by the title of the poem is one of togetherness, nevertheless in the first stanza, Jennings describes the physical separation of a couple. “Lying separately now, each in a separate bed” suggests that these people once shared where they slept, but are now alone at night. The following lines: “He with a book, keeping the lights on late, She like a girl dreaming of childhood,” explore what each does when apart. The man intends to read a book while the woman reflects on her childhood, as well as thinking about men, suggested by the phrase "All men elsewhere." The poet continues "As if they were waiting, for a new event", creating the idea that they are both waiting for something to happen, but are instead still and empty; the man looking at his book and the woman looking at the shadows. The couple portrayed by Jennings appear mentally and physically distant. In the second stanza, the poet notices the lack of affection and physical intimacy between the two. She writes: "They almost never touch each other, or if they do, it's like a confession, to having few feelings - or too many." These lines suggest that any affection that might arise between them is just a reminder of the lack of emotion they both ... middle of paper ... line means it could be either an order, or a prediction. It's clear at the end that Jonson is encouraging himself not to "love too much" the people he loved "too much." This is described in the sentence: "As what he loves will perhaps never love him too much." » Maybe it's because he never wants to feel the grief he felt for his son again. Both, “One Flesh” by Elizabeth Jennings and “On My First Son” by Ben Jonson, describe the loss of something in each of their children. lives. Elizabeth Jennings depicts the scene in her parents' bedroom and the feelings they both reflect on as their relationship gradually lost its passion as they grew older. As Jonson writes about the loss of his son, the grief he feels and speaks to his son through the poem. Writing these poems may have given the poets a way to release the grief and emotions they felt over losses..