The Wheel of the Breast by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The poem explores the theme of love and relationships, focusing on a romantic partnership that has reached a critical point. The speaker describes their emotions as a wheel that turns, symbolizing the cyclical nature of their feelings. They express a deep longing for their partner, acknowledging the flaws in their relationship while still yearning for connection and intimacy.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1896 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Psychological · 386 words
First lines
Through rivers of veins on the nameless quest / The tide of my life goes hurriedly sweeping, / Till it reaches that curious wheel o' the breast, / The human heart, which is never at rest. / Faster, faster, it cries, and leaping, / Plunging, dashing, speeding away, / The wheel and the river work night and day.
I know not wherefore, I know not whither, / This strange tide rushes with such mad force: / It glides on hither, it slides on thither, / Over and over the selfsame course, / With never an outlet and never a source; / And it lashes itself to the heat of passion / And whirls the heart in a mill-wheel fashion.
What this Textopian page supports
The Wheel of the Breast is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1896 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Psychological, Metaphysical, Romantic
- Length: 386 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Wheel of the Breast by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse, with a focus on rhythm, meter, and imagery.
- Philosophical — The themes explore existential questions about the nature of life and the human heart.
- Psychological — The work delves into the inner workings of the human mind and emotions.
- Metaphysical — The text uses metaphors and abstract concepts to discuss the human condition.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · Feminist Literature · Romanticism · Love Poems · Nature Poetry · Spirituality · Mysticism · Philosophy · Psychology · Self-Discovery · Personal Growth