--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My heart pumps yet the poison draught of…" description: "\"My heart pumps yet the poison draught of you.\" — William Empson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/william-empson-21017_heart_my-heart-pumps-yet-the-poison-draught-of_281236.jpg" --- # My heart pumps yet the poison draught of you. ![“My heart pumps yet the poison draught of you.” quote by William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/william-empson-21017_heart_my-heart-pumps-yet-the-poison-draught-of_281236.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/william-empson-21017_heart_my-heart-pumps-yet-the-poison-draught-of_281236.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/william-empson-21017_heart_my-heart-pumps-yet-the-poison-draught-of_281236.jpg) > “My heart pumps yet the poison draught of you.” [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intense love feels toxic, as if the beloved’s influence is both life‑giving and poisonous. **In simple terms:** Love can feel both vital and harmful. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance intense emotions. Themes love toxicity passion conflict Mood reflective melancholic Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - self‑care - emotional awareness - creative writing Key Concepts psychology romanticism dual nature Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel love is more harmful than beneficial? - How can passion be channeled positively? A Different Perspective The metaphor may romanticize unhealthy dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poison/) ## Related quotes > [Joy and pain, they are but two arteries of the one heart that pumps through all those who don't numb themselves to really living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/joy-and-pain-they-are-but-two-arteries-of-the-one-heart-that-pumps/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [With each beat, the heart pumps nearly three ounces of blood into the arteries--seventy-five to ninety gallons an hour when the body is at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/with-each-beat-the-heart-pumps-nearly-three-ounces-of-blood-into-the/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [“In an average lifetime, a heart pumps about one million barrels of blood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-kellett/in-an-average-lifetime-a-heart-pumps-about-one-million-barrels-of/) [Jenny Kellett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-kellett/) > [A heart pumps blood for us to be alive. While you, give life to me to live even without my heart pumping blood for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teejay-david/a-heart-pumps-blood-for-us-to-be-alive-while-you-give-life-to-me-to/) [Teejay David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teejay-david/) > [Slowly the poison the whole blood stream fills. It is not the effort nor the failure tires. The waste remains, the waste remains and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/slowly-the-poison-the-whole-blood-stream-fills-it-is-not-the-effort-2/) [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) > [“Slowly the poison the whole blood stream fills. It is not the effort nor the failure tires. The waste remains, the waste remains and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/slowly-the-poison-the-whole-blood-stream-fills-it-is-not-the-effort/) [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) > [Yelena, you've driven me crazy. You've caused me considerable trouble and I've contemplated ending your life twice since I've known you." Valek's warm breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/yelena-you-ve-driven-me-crazy-you-ve-caused-me-considerable-trouble/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [For Scotland has a double dose of the poison called heredity; the sense of blood in the aristocrat, the sense of doom in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/for-scotland-has-a-double-dose-of-the-poison-called-heredity-the/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [I’ve blamed her for all of this, for leaving, for ruining me. 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Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [“Fear has the role we give it. We are able to empower or poison ourselves to whatever degree we want. This is the beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/fear-has-the-role-we-give-it-we-are-able-to-empower-or-poison/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“the voice seems honey to ears but ; the felling turn to poison heart...!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-a-samuel/the-voice-seems-honey-to-ears-but-the-felling-turn-to-poison-heart/) [felix a samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-a-samuel/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) ## More by William Empson > [“Villanelle It is the pain, it is the pain endures. 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Are we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/waiting-for-the-end-boys-waiting-for-the-end-what-is-there-to-be-or/) [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) > [“Slowly the poison the whole blood stream fills. It is not the effort nor the failure tires. The waste remains, the waste remains and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/slowly-the-poison-the-whole-blood-stream-fills-it-is-not-the-effort/) [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) > [The central function of imaginative literature is to make you realize that other people act on moral convictions different from your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/the-central-function-of-imaginative-literature-is-to-make-you-realize/) [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) > [Slowly the poison the whole blood stream fills. It is not the effort nor the failure tires. The waste remains, the waste remains and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/slowly-the-poison-the-whole-blood-stream-fills-it-is-not-the-effort-2/) [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) > [You don't want madhouse and the whole thing there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/you-don-t-want-madhouse-and-the-whole-thing-there/) [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) > [Poetry contains nothing haphazard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/poetry-contains-nothing-haphazard/) [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) > [I'm afraid I take ... this rather clinical view of love: it's saving you from madness. I'm not so enthusiastic as other poets have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/i-m-afraid-i-take-this-rather-clinical-view-of-love-it-s-saving-you/) [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) > [The heart of standing is you cannot fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/the-heart-of-standing-is-you-cannot-fly/) [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) > [All those large dreams by which men long live well Are magic-lanterned on the smoke of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/all-those-large-dreams-by-which-men-long-live-well-are-magic/) [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) > [Twixt devil and deep sea, man hacks his caves; Birth, death; one, many; what is true, and seems; Earth's vast hot iron, cold space's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/twixt-devil-and-deep-sea-man-hacks-his-caves-birth-death-one-many/) [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) > [Law makes long spokes of the short stakes of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/law-makes-long-spokes-of-the-short-stakes-of-men/) [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) > [The machinations of ambiguity are among the very roots of poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/the-machinations-of-ambiguity-are-among-the-very-roots-of-poetry/) [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) [Explore all 30 William Empson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) ## More Heart quotes > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“He held her like a new woman and what she felt felt almost as good as love had, and each of them called it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dunn/he-held-her-like-a-new-woman-and-what-she-felt-felt-almost-as-good-as/) [Stephen Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dunn/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [My heart jumps out of its cage to see what the fuss is about. Damn thing. Always so hopeful, but my voice hides it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wylie/my-heart-jumps-out-of-its-cage-to-see-what-the-fuss-is-about-damn/) [Sarah Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wylie/) > [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/) Rena Kornreich Gelissen > [“He didn't break my heart. No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/) [Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/) > [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Love will fan the flame, and that flame will warm the heart that's waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/love-will-fan-the-flame-and-that-flame-will-warm-the-heart-that-s/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She couldn't break the orbit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/she-couldn-t-break-the-orbit/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) [Browse all 45,172 Heart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My heart pumps yet the poison draught of you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Empson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/my-heart-pumps-yet-the-poison-draught-of-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Heart" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/my-heart-pumps-yet-the-poison-draught-of-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/william-empson-21017_heart_my-heart-pumps-yet-the-poison-draught-of_281236.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/william-empson-21017_heart_my-heart-pumps-yet-the-poison-draught-of_281236.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/william-empson-21017_heart_my-heart-pumps-yet-the-poison-draught-of_281236.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My heart pumps yet the poison draught of you.” — William Empson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William Empson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My heart pumps yet the poison...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/my-heart-pumps-yet-the-poison-draught-of-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/my-heart-pumps-yet-the-poison-draught-of-you/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```