My Heart, being Hungry

Name: My Heart, being Hungry
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores themes of desire, longing, and the insatiable nature of the heart. The speaker expresses a deep hunger for emotional and aesthetic fulfillment, suggesting that their heart seeks nourishment beyond the physical realm. The imagery conveys a sense of dissatisfaction with the superficial aspects of beauty and life, indicating that true satisfaction is elusive. The speaker's heart is portrayed as a voracious entity, craving experiences and sensations that are often absent or unrecognized in the world around them. This hunger leads to a sense of querulousness, as the speaker grapples with the disparity between their desires and the reality they encounter. The heart's growth symbolizes an increasing need for deeper connections and more profound experiences. As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the potential dullness that may come with satiation. There is an acknowledgment that once the heart is filled, the appreciation for the simple beauties of life may diminish. The imagery of rain and the scent of tansy evokes a connection to nature, suggesting that even the smallest pleasures may lose their significance when one becomes accustomed to a greater abundance. Ultimately, the work captures the tension between yearning and fulfillment, illustrating the complexities of human emotion and the perpetual quest for meaning and beauty in a world that often falls short of those ideals. The speaker's introspection reveals a profound understanding of the heart's desires, while also hinting at the inevitable disillusionment that accompanies the pursuit of such aspirations.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1941 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Romanticism · 121 words

First lines

My heart, being hungry, feeds on food The fat of heart despise.

Beauty where beauty never stood, And sweet where no sweet lies

I gather to my querulous need, Having a growing heart to feed.

It may be, when my heart is dull, Having attained its girth,

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My Heart, being Hungry is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1941 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1941 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Romanticism, Modernism, Nature
Length: 121 words
Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Romanticism — Themes of beauty, nature, and emotional depth align with Romantic ideals.
Modernism — The poem reflects modernist themes of existential inquiry and subjective experience.