In Margaret Atwood's "Negotiating with the Dead," she reflects on an unusual gift from a former boyfriend, who sent her a cow's heart pierced by an arrow, carefully packaged to avoid any mess. This striking image serves to highlight the intersection of love, art, and poetry in her life, suggesting that her partner understood her artistic sensibilities. The drama of the gesture encapsulates both romantic affection and an understanding of her interests.

The heart symbolizes more than just love; it embodies the complex relationship between creativity and emotion. Atwood's anecdote showcases how personal relationships can inspire artistic expression, blurring the lines between the personal and the creative journey. It reveals how deeply intertwined human experiences are with the practice of writing and poetry.