My heart, I cannot still it,
Nest that had song-birds in it;
And when the last shall go,
The dreary days to fill it,
Instead of lark or linnet,
Shall whirl dead leaves and snow.
The speaker compares his heart to an empty nest in order to
The speaker compares his heart to an empty nest in order to emphasize to readers that his first love has left. This makes the Author feel lonely, unwanted, and sad.