Heart of mine, if all the altars by Bliss Carman
Bliss Carman's "Heart of Mine" is a poem that explores the idea of love and devotion. The speaker reflects on how their heart has been shaped by their experiences, and how it continues to beat with a sense of longing and yearning for something greater than themselves. The poem is written in free verse, with a loose, expressive rhythm that mirrors the speaker's emotional state. The poem explores themes of love, devotion, and the human experience. How does this resonate with you?
By Bliss Carman · First published 1892 · Genre: Poetry, Romantic, Nature · 266 words
First lines
Heart of mine, if all the altars / Of the ages stood before me, / Not one pure enough nor sacred / Could I find to lay this white, white / Rose of love upon.
I who am not great enough to / Love thee with this mortal body / So impassionate with ardour, / But oh, not too small to worship / While the sun shall shine, --
I would build a fragrant temple / To thee, in the dark green forest, / Of red cedar and fine sandal, / And there love thee with sweet service / All my whole life long.
I would freshen it with flowers, / And the piney hill-wind through it / Should be sweetened with soft fervours / Of small prayers in gentle language / Thou wouldst smile to hear.
What this Textopian page supports
Heart of mine, if all the altars is listed on Textopian as a poem by Bliss Carman, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Bliss Carman
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romantic, Nature
- Length: 266 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Heart of mine, if all the altars by Bliss Carman
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — Bliss Carman is primarily known as a poet, and 'Heart of mine, if all the altars' is one of his poetry collections.
- Romantic — Given the title and the common themes Bliss Carman explores, there is likely a romantic element to many of the poems in this collection.
- Nature — Bliss Carman's writing often reflects a deep appreciation for and connection to the natural world.
Tags
Romantic · Poetry · Nature · Spirituality · Mysticism · Symbolism · Metaphor · Imagery · Personification · Alliteration · Assonance · Repetition