Final answer:
The phrase 'Whenever I leave you, I go out of breath' compares the act of leaving someone to the physical sensation of breathlessness, signifying the intense emotional impact of separation. Breath, as a literary device, is used in poetry to convey feelings of life, desperation, and urgency.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the statement 'Whenever I leave you, I go out of breath,' there is a comparison between the emotional effect of parting and the physical sensation of becoming breathless. Literature often uses metaphors and similes to draw comparisons to convey deeper meanings.
In this case, leaving someone important is equated with the shortness of breath, suggesting a significant emotional impact, akin to what might be physically experienced during intense activity or stress.
The interplay between breath and line in poetry, as discussed in various provided texts, serves as a powerful literary device. For instance, in Allen Ginsberg's Howl, long lines convey a sense of urgency and are used to mimic the poet's own breathlessness as he struggles to articulate his thoughts.
Similarly, the short lines in Robinson Jeffers' poem The Eye affect the reader's breathing pattern, emphasizing quick glances and fleeting impressions. Thus, breath becomes a metaphor for life, desperation, urgency, or emotional intensity in literature.