I like what this poem says about the passage of time and how it can be subtle. “The dissembling Breeze” (4) hints without assuming, making the heart reflect on the things it doesn’t often consider. There’s a quiet emotion and reflection to this poem that is really interesting.
I feel like I understood some of the meaning of this poem, but sometimes I struggle to understand significance in intentional capitalization. For example, Dickinson capitalizes “Cleaving” (1), “Brain” (2), “Seam” (3), “Sequence” (7), etc. I’m having a hard time understanding some of the deeper possible meanings here besides just emphasizing the words.
Poems #528 & #588:
It’s well known that Dickinson discusses the concept of death in a variety of her poems. From my understanding and interpretation of them, these two poems approach death in different ways, however they possess similar meanings
Within #528, Dickinson describes death as peaceful, an escape from the suffering that is living. Death waits for us kindly “behind the Door-” (4). I really like how she uses birds as a metaphor in this poem. When weathers get harsh and unbearable, some birds migrate to warmer temperatures and easier living conditions. Humans “are the Birds – that stay” (8). Oftentimes in our lives there is no option to migrate to a new climate or easier circumstance. We live through what we’re given for better or for worse, we’re desperate birds, searching for the light in all our darkness. The second two stanzas describe the suffering in living, however the poem is introduced by the savior of death. Dickinson writes that living is worse than dying and that there’s something peaceful in the concept of an eternal rest waiting for us.
While poem #588 still discusses suffering, it talks less about life itself and more regarding the emotional experience as a human and psychological progression. It infers that the desire to die slowly builds throughout life, it is our final privilege we are given. The heart, one of the prominent figures in this poem, is gradually worn out by emotional suffering and begins to seek the peace in death. It first “asks Pleasure” (1), and then when reality settles, all the heart desires is an excuse “from Pain” (2). This poem connects to the prior one in that they illustrate death as a relief or a reward from life. I believe death is a very daunting topic- it can often be difficult and uncomfortable to think about existential topics like it. However, in these two poems I think Dickinson provides a very beautiful perspective on death that makes the idea of it a little less scary. While I don’t fully agree that all of life is suffering, I do think her approach can be fitting.
Both poems highlight death. However, the first reveals human endurance through hardships and the second portrays the heart’s eventual surrender to emotional pain.
Analysis/Discussion Questions for Poems #466, #479, & #546 (some of the poems that interested me the most from our readings). 🙂
#466 – I really enjoyed this poem specifically because we directly hear about Dickinson’s preference of poetry as opposed to plain writing/prose. She describes poetry as a sort of chamber of possibility and a “fairer house than Prose” (2). There’s more doors, windows, opportunity, the roof for creativity and expression is seemingly limitless. I felt a certain passion from this poem that is very inspiring and beautiful. One of the lines that struck me the most was “impregnable of eye” (6). Poetry’s “chambers” are so boundless that the human eye can not definitively define them. As someone who wasn’t very fond of poetry before this course, I can say it has definitely grown on me and this poem helped me learn to love it even more. I do have a question about this poem for discussion though- I interpreted the poem as saying Dickinson prefers poetry to prose. Is it possible that she views prose as more limited and definitive as a literary art form, or is it simply just a preference?
#479 – Just a few questions for discussion in this one because I feel like “Death” in this poem is being personified in a couple different ways- It starts off by speaking of his kindness, and how he was in no rush on this “carriage ride.” However, later in the poem includes imagery of the “Dews drew quivering and chill” as he passes. How is “Death” meant to be perceived in this poem, what is Dickinson trying to say about it? Why is immortality introduced at the beginning of this poem, and then eternity is brought in at the end, what’s the significance of this, if any?
#546 – My main questions for this poem are surrounding Dickinson’s opinion on religion. With the line “I prayed, at first, a little Girl, Because they told me to -” (1-2), it appears to be discussing childhood faith and how it can be forced upon the young. It reminds me of how we were talking about the “Now I lay me down to sleep” prayer in class the other day, and how when you say it now, it sounds a bit creepy and unsettling in a few ways. What is Dickinson trying to say about this here, if anything?
I found this poem especially interesting because I relate it to when my mind wanders off to thinking about mortality and all that fun existential stuff sometimes. I read this poem with a somewhat ironic tone that honestly makes me laugh. She talks about how we’ll never escape bodily decay, how life is short, and how suffering is long; however, she dismisses all of these ideas at the end of each stanza with the phrase, “but, what of that?” (2.8). I find the third stanza the most interesting. To me, it seems like Dickinson is suggesting that in Heaven, life will be equal- the discrimination, lack of fairness, and cruelty we experience on Earth will no longer exist, and some new sense of balance will take its place. However, she still dismisses this seemingly idyllic afterlife with the same phrase, “but, what of that?” I’m especially curious about why she ends the poem this way. Does it suggest religious doubt about the afterlife, or some indifference of some kind? Is it more of a message to focus on your present life, making the afterlife irrelevant? It could also mean that the pain experienced on Earth is so irreparable that even the idea of Heaven doesn’t matter much. I know Dickinson often writes about death, but this poem stood out to me because of that final line, I’m not fully sure what to make of it.
When doing our readings for tomorrow, this poem specifically struck me due to its social commentary on the expectation of women during this time period. When girls, (more often than not very young girls), were married off, they immediately became “women” and were expected to adhere to their societal “duties.” Dickinson mentions how “odd the Girl’s life looks” (2.5) being forced to mold herself into this “woman” that is deemed so desirable. This poem is read with a particularly melancholy tone in my opinion, almost mourning the loss of innocence and independence of girls of this era, and recognizing that this reality isn’t how it’s meant to be. Dickinson also seems frustrated as she throws in an ironic remark at the end of it, “But Why compare? I’m “Wife”! Stop there!” (2.11-12).