My Heart, when First the Black-Bird Sings

Name: My Heart, when First the Black-Bird Sings
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

The poem explores the profound emotional connection between nature and the speaker's heart. It begins with the joy and tranquility experienced when the blackbird sings, symbolizing the beauty of nature and its ability to evoke deep feelings. The imagery of the heart drinking in the song and the cool pleasure spreading through the body illustrates a serene and harmonious state. As the poem progresses, the tone shifts when the speaker encounters a beloved. The calmness of nature is contrasted with the intensity of romantic feelings. The heart's reaction becomes tumultuous, likened to a lake disturbed by a storm, indicating that love brings both excitement and chaos. The juxtaposition of serene nature and passionate love highlights the complexity of human emotions, suggesting that while nature can soothe, love can stir and overwhelm. The poem ultimately reflects on the duality of experience—how moments of peace can be disrupted by the fervor of love, capturing the essence of human emotion in relation to the natural world.

By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1885 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Nature Writing · 104 words

First lines

MY heart, when first the blackbird sings, My heart drinks in the song: Cool pleasure fills my bosom through And spreads each nerve along.

My bosom eddies quietly, My heart is stirred and cool As when a wind-moved briar sweeps A stone into a pool

But unto thee, when thee I meet, My pulses thicken fast, As when the maddened lake grows black And ruffles in the blast.

What this Textopian page supports

My Heart, when First the Black-Bird Sings is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson, dated 1885 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Date: 1885 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Nature Writing, Lyric, Symbolism
Length: 104 words
Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work is a poem that employs lyrical language and explores emotional themes.
Romanticism — The poem reflects themes of nature, emotion, and personal experience typical of Romantic literature.
Nature Writing — The imagery of the blackbird and natural elements indicates a strong connection to nature.
Lyric — The poem expresses personal feelings and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.