Point of View

“Someday I’ll Love Ocean Vuong” uses multiple perspectives: first-person singular, first-person plural, second-person singular, and third-person singular. This wide variety of perspectives is suggestive of Vuong’s thematic interest throughout the poem to establish intimacy, even between perspectives that are seemingly mutually exclusive. This project is even evident in the title of the poem, in which Vuong holds out hope that himself in the first person singular, “I’ll,” will someday be able to come together with himself in the third-person singular, “Ocean Vuong,” through the word that literally occurs between and connects the two differing perspectives, "love."

Language and Meaning

The language of “Someday” is relatively simplistic. However, this simplicity is what contributes to the sense of intimacy – rather than trying to impress with language in pursuit of lofty ideals, Vuong quietly comforts himself, with his repeated gentle assurances of “don’t be...