Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Contentious Heart" by Ben Belitt is a poem that delicately navigates the internal struggle between a defensive posture towards the world and the irresistible pull of nature's beauty. The poem begins with an invocation to set aside "inadequate armor," suggesting a metaphorical shield used to guard against vulnerability. This armor represents a protective mechanism that the speaker sees as futile in the face of nature's overwhelming splendor, symbolized by the "cherry-colored sky" and the "cherry-branch aslant in sun."

The heart is characterized as "contentious," indicating a state of internal conflict or resistance against the natural world's allure. This resistance is deemed unnecessary, as the poem urges the heart to cease its opposition to the serene and vibrant images of nature. The imagery employed by Belitt is vivid and evocative, painting a picture of a world teeming with life and color, from the "plated phalanx of the berry" to the "bannered cavalcade of grass." These martial metaphors juxtapose the natural world's inherent gentleness with the heart's combative stance, emphasizing the futility of resistance.

As the poem progresses, the stakes of this internal battle escalate. The speaker warns that even the attempt to "ride one violet under" could lead to the heart's undoing, illustrating the overwhelming power of nature's beauty to penetrate defenses. The imagery of the crocus bursting "his breast asunder" and the dogwood leaving his heart "desolate" further illustrates the transformative—and potentially destructive—effect of engaging with nature on a deeply emotional level.

The poem concludes with an appeal to embrace vulnerability ("Best the ungarlanded forehead") and to let go of the struggle ("The broken contention put behind"). The "luminous arrow in the breast" and "the flowering miracle in the mind" symbolize the enlightenment and renewal that come from surrendering to the beauty and wonder of the natural world. These final lines capture the essence of the poem's message: that true contentment and understanding are found not in resistance but in acceptance and openness to the marvels of existence.

"Contentious Heart" is a lyrical meditation on the human tendency to guard against emotional exposure and the transformative potential of yielding to the natural world's enchantments. Through exquisite imagery and a gentle yet persuasive tone, Belitt crafts a compelling argument for vulnerability as a pathway to deeper connection and insight

POEM TEXT: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=19693

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