Love Better Than Wine

The first speaking voice is bold and personal: she wants the beloved’s kisses. Love is “better than wine,” perfume fills the air, and even the beloved’s name is compared to poured-out ointment. The language is sensory because the poem is celebrating attraction, not discussing it from a distance.

Where this fits in the book: wine, fragrance, oil, names, and desire will return repeatedly. The Song creates a world in which sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch all become part of faithful human delight. The “king” language introduces a royal register that will later culminate in the wedding procession of chapter 3.