The Passing of a Heart
This poem explores the theme of mortality and the passing of time. It describes a heart that has stopped beating, symbolizing the end of life. The speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of human existence and the inevitability of death. The poem also touches on the idea of memory and how it can linger after someone is gone.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Romantic, Tragedy · 364 words
First lines
O touch me with your hands -- For pity's sake!
My brow throbs ever on with such an ache As only your cool touch may take away; And so, I pray You, touch me with your hands!
What this Textopian page supports
The Passing of a Heart is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1883 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romantic, Tragedy, Elegy, Lyric
- Length: 364 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Passing of a Heart by James Whitcomb Riley
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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- The Dead Lover by James Whitcomb Riley
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- Their Sweet Sorrow by James Whitcomb Riley
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Romantic — Themes of love, longing, and emotional connection are central to the text.
- Tragedy — The narrative involves themes of loss and mourning, typical of tragic literature.
- Elegy — The poem reflects on death and remembrance, fitting the elegiac tradition.
Tags
Poetry · Romance · Love · Loss · Grief · Heartbreak · Emotional · Introspective · Melancholic · Sentimental · Nostalgic · Longing