Self-Esteem — Summary

A speaker remembers being completely overtaken by love—described as a “liquid ecstasy” that filled her entirely. That image makes love feel physical, almost like drinking something intoxicating. The mood is warm but also unsettled, because the second half turns into a question: if the drink he offers is so sweet, can she really look down on the cup? The cup likely stands for the man himself, his body, his circumstances, or the whole arrangement around the love. So the poem is less about simple happiness than about a conflict between how good love feels and the urge to judge or resist where it comes from. The title “Self-Esteem” adds a sharp edge: she may be asking whether accepting this love means betraying her own pride or self-respect.