Although there may be "bright April suns" spring also brings "the rain, the pulsing tide," (line 2). The narrator is profoundly sad at the love lost, symbolized by the passing of winter. At the same time, the narrator welcomes the turning tide of the seasons, the hope that lies embedded in each new blossom. In fact, it seems that much time has passed since the death of the loved one because the narrator is not overly emotional or melodramatic in "Lonely is the Heart." The tone is of subdued sadness, a sadness that has mellowed and matured through time and wise reflection. From the first line, "How lonely is the heart that used to know," the narrator notes that a hole has been left in his or her heart (line 1). The narrator appears forever changed by having known the individual who passed away and has spent "endless nights" in mourning (line 10). The endless nights of winter are about to give way to the shorter and shorter nights of spring, and the long...

Not only is it spring, but it is late spring: April. Twice the narrator mentions the month April to emphasize that the summer is near. April is the proverbial month of showers that "bring May flowers," too. This implies that the narrator is aware that a new era in his or her life will soon blossom. Extending the springtime analogy, the narrator's heart will flourish after being nourished by the rains of spring.
Lonely is the Heart" is a love poem crafted in the tradition of the sonnet. The first eleven lines rhyme using an ABAB scheme and the last two lines rhyme together. Diverging somewhat from the classic sonnet form, the poet allows "Lonely is the Heart" to speak for itself without being too constricted by poetic structure. However, the poet uses meter and rhyme to create a cohesive poem about love and loss. "Lonely is the Heart" addresses the passing of the darkest time…