The Broken Heart by John Donne
Analysis
"The Broken Heart" is a poem written by John Done. Donne speaks of his own broken heart. He states that love can come quickly, but after it ends it can last a long time. For him, he's had "the plague" for a year. He states that once cupid hits you with an arrow, there's really no turning back. We go forward with our love and hope it doesn't end, but when it does, we are hurt to no end and can no longer love.
"The Broken Heart" is written as four stanzas. It has eight lines in each stanza. It is rhymed as ABABCCAA. The syllable structure is as follow: 8-8-8-10-8-8-10-10. Since it is written in iambic foot: iambic-pentameter and iambic-quadrameter.
Poem
The Broken Heart He is stark mad, whoever says, That he hath been in love an hour, Yet not that love so soon decays, But that it can ten in less space devour; Who will believe me, if I swear That I have had the plague a year? Who would not laugh at me, if I should say I saw a flash of powder burn a day? Ah, what a trifle is a heart, If once into love's hands it come! All other griefs allow a part To other griefs, and ask themselves but some; They come to us, but us love draws; He swallows us and never chaws; By him, as by chain'd shot, whole ranks do die; He is the tyrant pike, our hearts the fry. If 'twere not so, what did become Of my heart when I first saw thee? I brought a heart into the room, But from the room I carried none with me. If it had gone to thee, I know Mine would have taught thine heart to show More pity unto me ; but Love, alas! At one first blow did shiver it as glass. Yet nothing can to nothing fall, Nor any place be empty quite; Therefore I think my breast hath all Those pieces still, though they be not unite; And now, as broken glasses show A hundred lesser faces, so My rags of heart can like, wish, and adore, But after one such love, can love no more.
Next: The Canonization