Fantasy
The speaker is troubled by the way that her imagination allows her to feel closer to her lover while simultaneously creating distance between the two of them. On the one hand, thinking about the "thee" offers a way to feel connected when the couple is physically apart. On the other hand, fantasy has the power to obscure the very reality that inspires it, and the speaker feels that her imaginative vision of the lover might actually overshadow his personhood. Ultimately, part of the joy of being together comes from the opportunity to sort fantasy from reality, letting the true version of the "thee" become visible.
Love
Love is at the emotional core of this poem in several ways. The speaker's descriptions suggest that love is overwhelming and almost addictive, such that it sustains itself even when the object of the love is far away. For this reason, the speaker can think and fantasize almost endlessly about her beloved. At the same time, this self-sustaining aspect of love can almost overwhelm its interpersonal aspects, allowing love to become inward-looking and self-centered. In fact, the speaker suggests, the truest form of love is one in which an individual can put aside their own ideals and perception in order to truly enjoy the presence of another person.
Independence
One of the speaker's fears is that she, despite her love and good intentions, will impinge upon her lover's independence. The metaphor she uses to describe her love—vines wrapping around a tree—is one not only of concealment but also one of constriction. This suggests that love, or at least certain expressions of love, can restrict the agency of the individuals involved. Again, the speaker sees this as a suboptimal condition, arguing that love should ideally involve an appreciation of each person's individuality.
