It will not hurt me when I am old, A running tide where moonlight burned Will not sting me like silver snakes; The years will make me sad and cold, It is the happy heart that breaks.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Old age and passing time will not hurt as much as a heart breaking in happiness. The speaker suggests emotional pain outweighs physical aging.
- In plain terms
- Aging and time are easier to bear than a happy heart breaking.
- What can you take from it?
- Emotional pain from love hurts more than the natural aging process.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is heartbreak harder than aging?
- What stings more?
Another view
The comparison assumes emotional pain is universally worse than physical decline.
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