How Is Your Heart (Part 4)

“How Is Your Heart” is a very different kind of poem, it really just depends on the way you look at it. If you ask me if he should be content, I will say no. I personally think he should want more because he really doesn't know what he is missing on. 

 First off humans are social creatures; they need relationships. He does not know what the meaning of relationships is because he hasn't had healthy relationships. He does not know the true meaning of relationships and he does not know how to deal with them either. As a child he had lived through unhealthy relationships and does not know what it means to have a healthy relationship. Humans need relationships in life because we need people; otherwise we become lonely and sometimes depressed. He does not have healthy relationships with anyone. When you have healthy relationships you feel supported, you feel like someone is there for you and it makes you happier and more positive. I’m not saying that he needs to have a huge family, but just a small family and even one person can make a difference.

          The poet does not know what it is like to live a clean life. He had always lived in poverty and filthy areas. When he looks at the circumstance he is in, he is happy, but he doesn't know what being clean is like. He doesn't know what it's like to be clean, or in a neat place. I'm not saying he needs to be rich, but he should have a job, a healthy lifestyle, and a warm home. He should have a good lifestyle because he is in a bad situation right now. He should start a new life with a family and a new home. He may be content with what he has right now, but that’s because that is what he has always lived in. He is happy with living in a filthy motel room because he has never lived in a clean proper area. Motel rooms are filthy and have so many germs; the only reason he is happy with that is because he does not know what clean is like.

         Poverty can put you in depression. Through this poem we have seen how is father was. He is becoming his father. He is alcoholic, he's living in bad circumstances, and he doesn’t have healthy relationships. He should learn from his father and know what it is like instead of becoming him. He could be a much happier person if he decreased the amount of alcohol he drinks, if he got a job, and if he had a healthy family. His father had very bad relationships, which caused many problems, and also gave the poet a hard childhood. He should try to improve that in his adulthood; he should find a woman that loves him and kids who he can give a good childhood too. He should try to make his life better than live in unhygienic conditions.

         The poet has lived in poverty all his life therefore he does not know the true value of money. Money is not only to be rich; it can help you in other aspects of life. Yes, money cannot buy you happiness, but it can add some positivity to your life. Believe it or not money does help you in life, a lot.  He could have a simple job, with an hourly pay and that’s really all you need. With a little bit of money he could buy himself food, clean clothes, a nice small shelter/home, and just overall have a better life.

         I personally was very shocked to see the true meaning behind this poem. It definitely makes a huge difference when you know what the poem is about. I personally really liked this poem, and learnt that things may look simple, but there is a lot behind it.