2. He deals the cards as a meditation
And those he plays never suspect
He doesn't play for the money he
wins
He doesn't play for the respect
He deals the cards to find the answer
The sacred geometry of chance
The hidden law of probable outcome
The numbers lead a dance

3. I know that the spades are the swords of a
soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this
art
But that's not the shape of my heart
He may play the jack of diamonds
He may lay the queen of spades
He may conceal a king in his hand
While the memory of it fades

4. I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
That's not the shape, the shape of my heart
And if I told you that I loved you
You'd maybe think there's something wrong
I'm not a man of too many faces
The mask I wear is one
Those who speak know nothing
And find out to their cost
Like those who curse their luck in too many places
And those who fear are lost

5. I know that the spades are the swords of a
soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this
art
But that's not the shape of my heart
That's not the shape of my heart

6. Title: “Shape of My Heart:” Since the heart is a shape itself, the title at first seems redundant. The
connotations of the word “heart” imply the poem will discuss matters of love and one’s true nature.
Paraphrase: Though I gamble, I only hide myself under one persona. I love you, and it is not inspired by
violent or monetary reasons.
Connotations:
Form-Divided into stanzas, refrain repeated 3x for emphasis
Diction-uses words associated with gambling, implying that matters of love are risky and full of chances
Imagery- associated with cards/gambling once again, depicts the different types of cards. Mostly relies on
visual imagery, not too descriptive
POV: 1st person, meant to connect with listeners
Details:
Allusions: none
Symbolism: cards—the other ones represent money, or war, but the “shape of my heart” symbolizes none of
those things
Figurative language: symbolism(clubs are weapons of war, spades are sword of a soldier, diamonds are
money), rhyme (ABCB), extended metaphor
Other devices: irony: “Those who speak know nothing”

7. Attitude: honest, reflective, declaring his love
Shifts: from third person to first person. At first, it describes
somebody
dealing the cards. Generally, we associate the idea of a card dealer
with God, or at least some sort of power figure. Then, the focus is
on the speaker himself. Finally, it is on the general public.
Title: the poem describes the motivations and aspirations of the
speaker, which are generally associated with one’s heart.
Theme: Subjects include cards, love, and motivations. The poem’s
message is against the materialism and concerns for reputation
that plague society; one’s heart, by virtue of being a heart, should
not be concerned with such things. It also comments on the
randomness of what life deals.

8. He deals the cards as a meditation
Rhyme (continued in
And those he plays never suspect
ABCB for rest of song)
He doesn't play for the money he wins
He doesn't play for the respect
Parallelism
He deals the cards to find the answer
The sacred geometry of chance
The hidden law of probable outcome
Personification
The numbers lead a dance
I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
Parallelism
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
He may play the jack of diamonds Not his
He may lay the queen of spades physical heart,
He may conceal a king in his hand but
While the memory of it fades symbolizes his
motivations,
his loves

9. I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war Refrain
I know that diamonds mean money for this art (second and
But that's not the shape of my heart third times)
That's not the shape, the shape of my heart
And if I told you that I loved you
You'd maybe think there's something wrong
I'm not a man of too many faces
The mask I wear is one
Those who speak know nothing
Repetition
And find out to their cost
Like those who curse their luck in too many places
And those who fear are lost
I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
That’s not the shape of my heart