The Altar

The altar is the central symbol of the poem, and it symbolizes the speaker's communion with God. The speaker explains that the altar is composed of his own heart, the "stones" of which only God is able to cut. The altar celebrates God's power and sacrifice toward humanity while illustrating the speaker's own desire to sacrifice in the name of praising God.

The Heart

The heart symbolizes the speaker's Christian soul. When the speaker says that the altar he builds is "broken" (1), he acknowledges his own imperfections as a human sinner. The visceral imagery of God carving the "stone" of the altar – the speaker's heart – emphasizes the extent to which the speaker feels indebted to his creator. His heart, like his soul, belongs to God.

Tears

The speaker's tears symbolize the labor of leading a Christian life as well as the labor of writing poetry...