The Heart Asks Pleasure First
This poem explores the idea that the heart's desire for pleasure and intimacy can be a driving force in life. It suggests that this desire is natural and necessary, but also potentially fraught with danger and uncertainty. The speaker describes the heart as asking for pleasure first, implying that it is a fundamental and primal need.
By Emily Dickinson · First published 1890 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Lyric · 67 words
First lines
The heart asks pleasure first, And then, excuse from pain; And then, those little anodynes That deaden suffering;
And then, to go to sleep; And then, if it should be The will of its Inquisitor, The liberty to die.
What this Textopian page supports
The Heart Asks Pleasure First is listed on Textopian as a poem by Emily Dickinson, dated 1890 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Emily Dickinson
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Lyric, Metaphysical
- Length: 67 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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- Possession by Emily Dickinson
- Thirst by Emily Dickinson
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- The Song Of Songs by Madison Cawein
- Hymn To Desire by Madison Cawein
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing meter and rhyme, characteristic of poetry.
- Philosophical — The themes explore existential questions about pleasure, pain, and mortality, typical of philosophical literature.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, aligning with the lyric genre.
- Metaphysical — The exploration of abstract concepts such as the soul's desires and existential freedom is indicative of metaphysical literature.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Love · Pleasure · Heart · Soul · Longing · Yearning · Desire · Intimacy · Romance · Spirituality