The Beat of the Heart
The beat of the heart is a timeless and universal subject in poetry. It is the rhythm of life that animates us and gives us vitality. The heart has been the source of inspiration for countless poets throughout the ages, from the romantic era to the modern day. In this article, we will explore the many facets of the beat of the heart in poetry.
The Heart as a Symbol
The heart is one of the most common symbols in poetry. It represents love, passion, and emotion. For many poets, the heart is the seat of the soul, and it is through the heart that we experience our most profound emotions. Shakespeare famously wrote in his play Hamlet, "The heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to." This phrase captures the way that the heart is both a source of great joy and great pain.
The heart is also often associated with the physical act of beating. In poetry, the beat of the heart can represent the rhythm of life itself. It is the steady pulse that propels us forward and keeps us moving. As Robert Frost wrote in his poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, / But I have promises to keep, / And miles to go before I sleep, / And miles to go before I sleep." This passage captures the sense of urgency and purpose that is often associated with the beat of the heart.
The Beat of the Heart in Love Poetry
Love poetry is perhaps the genre that is most closely associated with the beat of the heart. For many poets, the heart is the center of romantic love, and it is through the beat of the heart that we experience the full intensity of our emotions. In his poem "Annabel Lee," Edgar Allan Poe writes, "For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams / Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; / And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes / Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; / And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side / Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride, / In the sepulchre there by the sea, / In her tomb by the sounding sea." This passage captures the way that the beat of the heart can both sustain and torment us in matters of love.
Another famous love poem that captures the beat of the heart is Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "How Do I Love Thee?" In this poem, Browning writes, "I love thee to the depth and breadth and height / My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight / For the ends of being and ideal grace. / I love thee to the level of every day's / Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. / I love thee freely, as men strive for right; / I love thee purely, as they turn from praise." This poem captures the way that the beat of the heart can be both all-encompassing and tender at the same time.
The Beat of the Heart in Nature Poetry
The beat of the heart is not only a human phenomenon - it can also be found in the natural world. Many poets have used the beat of the heart as a metaphor for the rhythms of the natural world. In his poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," William Wordsworth writes, "Continuous as the stars that shine / And twinkle on the Milky Way, / They stretched in never-ending line / Along the margin of a bay: / Ten thousand saw I at a glance, / Tossing their heads in sprightly dance." This passage captures the sense of movement and life that can be found in the natural world. The beat of the heart can also be found in the sound of the ocean, the rustling of leaves in the wind, and the chirping of birds in the morning.
The Beat of the Heart in Music Poetry
Finally, the beat of the heart is closely related to the beat of music. Many poets have used the beat of music as a metaphor for the beat of the heart. In his poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," T.S. Eliot writes, "Let us go then, you and I, / When the evening is spread out against the sky / Like a patient etherized upon a table; / Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets, / The muttering retreats / Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels / And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells." This poem captures the sense of rhythm and flow that can be found in music and the beat of the heart.
Conclusion
Throughout history, the beat of the heart has been a rich and multifaceted subject for poets. It is a symbol of love, passion, and emotion, and it is also a metaphor for the rhythms of life, nature, and music. Whether we are writing about the beat of our own hearts or the beat of the hearts of others, we can find endless inspiration in this timeless subject.