Lydia Davis’, “Head, Heart” Essay Sample

In Lydia Davis’, “Head, Heart”, she describes so eloquently in ten lines how the head attempts to convince the heart to be rational when it comes to matters of the heart. For a time the heart listens, only to gravitate back to following its own path in order to fulfill its yearning needs.
In the first stanza, the heart is broken by hurt. The head sweeps in to comfort the heart by speaking truthfully and expressing the fact that nothing lasts forever; that even the earth will one day disappear. The heart finds comfort in this. The irony is the head professes that nothing lasts forever and so it is that the head’s words of wisdom to the heart do not last as well.
There is conflict in this poem between emotion and rationality. The struggle is real. Both fight for prominence as the leading dictator to guide and control. In matters of the heart, it is often difficult to remain rational when emotions are involved. When we go through a breakup for instance, it can be quite the rollercoaster of emotions. Temporarily we come to our senses and realize that it was for the best, the person was not good for us, and on and on. It is not long before we let our guard down and the rush of feelings and emotions that were and still are a part of the relationship push through the rational thoughts to surface into a rush of emotions that wipes away any sense of reality.
The poem illustrates how everything in life is temporary and cyclical. We find love. We lose it. We find it again. We have ups and downs, triumphs and joys, pain and heartache. Life is a journey. Love is eternal. No amount of rational thought can eradicate the love one feels in their heart for another.