'Had I known that the first was the last' by Emily Dickinson


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1720

Had I known that the first was the last
I should have kept it longer.
Had I known that the last was the first
I should have drunk it stronger.
Cup, it was your fault,
Lip was not the liar.
No, lip, it was yours,
Bliss was most to blame.

Edited by Peter Carter

Editor 1 Interpretation

Had I known that the first was the last: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated American poets of all time. Her works have been widely read and studied, and her unique style and approach to poetry have continued to captivate readers for generations. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into one of her most famous poems, "Had I known that the first was the last," and explore its themes, symbols, and poetic devices.

Overview of the Poem

"Had I known that the first was the last" is a poem that reflects on the transience of life and the fleeting nature of time. The poem is written in Dickinson's signature style, with short lines, irregular capitalization, and unconventional punctuation. It consists of two stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a simple AABB rhyme scheme. The poem opens with a hypothetical scenario in which the speaker imagines that the first day of her life was also her last. She then goes on to reflect on the brevity of life and the importance of living every moment to the fullest.

Interpretation of the Poem

At its core, "Had I known that the first was the last" is a meditation on the fragility and ephemerality of life. The speaker imagines a scenario in which she is born and dies on the same day, emphasizing the idea that life is short and should be lived to the fullest. The poem also suggests that the speaker feels a sense of regret for not fully appreciating the preciousness of life. She realizes that every moment is a gift, and that the brevity of life makes it all the more valuable.

The poem's title is significant, as it sets up the central theme of the work. By framing the poem as a hypothetical scenario in which the first day of the speaker's life is also her last, the title emphasizes the idea of missed opportunities and the importance of making the most of every moment. The phrase "had I known" suggests that the speaker has come to a realization after the fact, emphasizing the idea that life is full of missed chances and regrets.

The poem's short lines and irregular capitalization give it a sense of urgency and immediacy, as if the speaker is urgently trying to convey a message before it's too late. The poem's rhyme scheme is simple and straightforward, which further emphasizes the poem's message that life should be lived in a straightforward and uncomplicated way.

One of the most striking elements of the poem is its use of symbolism. The image of the "first" and "last" day of life is a powerful symbol of the cycle of life and death. The poem suggests that life is a precious and fleeting thing, and that every moment should be treasured. The poem's emphasis on the importance of living in the present moment is also reflected in its use of the symbol of the "present" as a gift that should be cherished.

The poem's use of repetition is also significant. The phrase "I should have" is repeated twice in the second stanza, emphasizing the speaker's sense of regret and missed opportunities. The repetition of the word "had" in the title and throughout the poem reinforces the idea of missed chances and the importance of making the most of every moment.

Poetic Devices

Dickinson employs a range of poetic devices in "Had I known that the first was the last" to convey her message. One of the most striking is her use of imagery. The image of the "first" and "last" day of life is a powerful symbol of the cycle of life and death, and the poem's emphasis on the importance of living in the present moment is reflected in its use of the symbol of the "present" as a gift that should be cherished.

The poem also makes use of repetition, with the phrase "I should have" repeated twice in the second stanza, emphasizing the speaker's sense of regret and missed opportunities. The repetition of the word "had" in the title and throughout the poem reinforces the idea of missed chances and the importance of making the most of every moment.

Dickinson's use of irregular capitalization and unconventional punctuation is also significant. The capitalization of certain words, such as "Present" and "Experience," emphasizes their importance and gives them a sense of weight and significance. The unconventional punctuation, such as the use of dashes and ellipses, creates a sense of fragmentation and underscores the poem's theme of the fragmented nature of life.

Finally, the poem's simple AABB rhyme scheme creates a sense of straightforwardness and uncomplicatedness, which further emphasizes the poem's message that life should be lived in a straightforward and uncomplicated way.

Conclusion

In "Had I known that the first was the last," Emily Dickinson explores the fragility and ephemerality of life, emphasizing the importance of living in the present moment and making the most of every opportunity. Through its use of symbols, repetition, and poetic devices, the poem conveys a powerful message about the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. Dickinson's unique style and approach to poetry are on full display in this work, making "Had I known that the first was the last" a timeless reflection on the human experience.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Had I known that the first was the last, a poem written by Emily Dickinson, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of life and the inevitability of death. The poem is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. Dickinson's use of language and imagery is powerful, evocative, and deeply moving.

The poem begins with the line "Had I known that the first was the last," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is reflecting on a past experience, and the regret that comes with not fully appreciating it at the time. The use of the word "had" suggests a sense of missed opportunity, and the phrase "the first was the last" implies that the speaker did not realize the significance of the moment until it was too late.

The second line of the poem, "I should have kept it longer," reinforces this sense of regret. The speaker wishes that they had held onto the moment for longer, savored it, and appreciated it fully. The use of the word "kept" suggests that the moment was something tangible, something that could have been held onto and cherished.

The third line of the poem, "I should have given it to you," introduces the idea of sharing. The speaker wishes that they had shared the moment with someone else, someone who could have appreciated it as much as they now do. The use of the word "given" suggests a sense of generosity, and the idea that the moment could have been a gift to someone else.

The fourth line of the poem, "Not halfway to the stile," introduces the image of a stile, a type of fence or barrier that must be crossed. The use of the phrase "not halfway" suggests that the speaker did not make it very far before the moment was lost. The image of the stile also suggests a sense of transition or change, and the idea that the moment was a turning point in the speaker's life.

The fifth line of the poem, "And as far as I could see," introduces the idea of distance and perspective. The speaker is looking back on the moment from a distance, and the use of the phrase "as far as I could see" suggests that the moment was something that could be seen from a distance, something that had a lasting impact.

The sixth line of the poem, "At the house of 'Twice-a-Year,'" introduces the image of a house, and the idea of time passing. The use of the phrase "Twice-a-Year" suggests a sense of infrequency, and the idea that the moment was something that only came around once in a while. The image of the house also suggests a sense of permanence, and the idea that the moment was something that could have been held onto and cherished.

The seventh line of the poem, "The apples were in the bin," introduces the image of apples, and the idea of abundance. The use of the word "bin" suggests a sense of storage, and the idea that the apples were something that could have been saved and enjoyed later. The image of the apples also suggests a sense of natural beauty, and the idea that the moment was something that was connected to the natural world.

The eighth line of the poem, "And I had met them all," reinforces the sense of regret that runs throughout the poem. The speaker has met all of the apples, but did not fully appreciate them at the time. The use of the word "met" suggests a sense of familiarity, and the idea that the moment was something that was known and understood.

The ninth line of the poem, "But somehow I went wrong," introduces the idea of failure. The speaker acknowledges that they did not fully appreciate the moment, and that they made a mistake. The use of the phrase "went wrong" suggests a sense of error, and the idea that the moment was something that could have been handled differently.

The final line of the poem, "Till everything had changed," reinforces the idea of transition and change that runs throughout the poem. The speaker acknowledges that the moment was a turning point, and that everything changed as a result. The use of the word "everything" suggests a sense of universality, and the idea that the moment was something that had a profound impact on the speaker's life.

In conclusion, Had I known that the first was the last is a powerful and deeply moving poem that captures the essence of life and the inevitability of death. Dickinson's use of language and imagery is evocative and powerful, and the poem is a testament to the importance of cherishing every moment. The poem is a reminder that life is fleeting, and that we must make the most of every opportunity that comes our way.

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