'It always felt to me—a wrong' by Emily Dickinson
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It always felt to me—a wrong
To that Old Moses—done—
To let him see—the Canaan—
Without the entering—
And tho' in soberer moments—
No Moses there can be
I'm satisfied—the Romance
In point of injury—
Surpasses sharper stated—
Of Stephen—or of Paul—
For these—were only put to death—
While God's adroiter will
On Moses—seemed to fasten
With tantalizing Play
As Boy—should deal with lesser Boy—
To prove ability.
The fault—was doubtless Israel's—
Myself—had banned the Tribes—
And ushered Grand Old Moses
In Pentateuchal Robes
Upon the Broad Possession
'Twas little—But titled Him—to see—
Old Man on Nebo! Late as this—
My justice bleeds—for Thee!
Editor 1 Interpretation
"It always felt to me--a wrong" by Emily Dickinson: A Deep Dive into the Human Condition
What is poetry for? What is the purpose of art? Is it to make us feel emotions we wouldn't otherwise feel? Is it to teach us something about the world? Is it to make us better people? All of the above? None of the above? These are big questions, and the answers are not always clear. But one thing is certain: Emily Dickinson's poem "It always felt to me--a wrong" is a powerful piece of art that provokes many questions about the human condition.
The Poem: "It always felt to me--a wrong"
It always felt to me--a wrong
To that poor pillow!
The down seemed too appalled to lie,
Secure the lying head to see,
So helpless to be
So impotent to die.
We try to say a little less
For look--see how the feather's dress
Assumes a dye
That would not keep--
Then how the pillow--bears too ample,
How endorsed with lily-stamp,
'Let Sea' within--
And 'Shore' without--
How chance wills they together lay
Upon the plainest work-day.
The poem is short, only eight lines, but it is packed with meaning. At first glance, it seems to be describing a pillow that is too soft or too comfortable. But as we read on, it becomes clear that there is something deeper going on here.
Analysis: A Pillow that "Feels Wrong"
The first line of the poem, "It always felt to me--a wrong," sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The word "wrong" is a powerful one, suggesting that something is not as it should be. But what is the "wrong" here? Is it the pillow itself, or something else?
As we read on, it becomes clear that the poem is not really about the pillow at all. It is about the human condition: our vulnerability, our mortality, and our struggle to find meaning in a world that often seems indifferent to our suffering.
The second stanza of the poem is particularly powerful. Dickinson writes, "We try to say a little less / For look--see how the feather's dress / Assumes a dye / That would not keep--". Here, she seems to be suggesting that we are afraid to confront the reality of our own mortality. We try to "say a little less" because the truth is too painful to bear. But the truth is there, staring us in the face, as the feather's dress assumes a dye that "would not keep."
The third stanza is equally powerful. Dickinson writes, "Then how the pillow--bears too ample, / How endorsed with lily-stamp, / 'Let Sea' within-- / And 'Shore' without--". Here, she seems to be suggesting that even the pillow, a seemingly insignificant object, bears the weight of the human condition. The lily-stamp on the pillow is a reminder of our own mortality, as the lily is a symbol of death. And the words "Let Sea" and "Shore" suggest the cyclical nature of life and death.
The final line of the poem, "How chance wills they together lay / Upon the plainest work-day," brings the poem full circle. The pillow, and by extension the human condition, is something we must confront every day, even on the "plainest work-day." There is no escaping it.
Interpretation: Confronting the Human Condition
So what can we learn from this poem? What is Dickinson trying to tell us about the human condition?
At its core, "It always felt to me--a wrong" is a poem about confronting the reality of our own mortality. Dickinson is asking us to look at the world around us and see it for what it is: a beautiful, fleeting, and ultimately fragile thing. We must confront the "wrong" of our own mortality if we are to truly appreciate the beauty of life.
But Dickinson is not just asking us to confront the reality of our own mortality. She is also asking us to find meaning in our lives despite this reality. The pillow, with its lily-stamp and words "Let Sea" and "Shore," is a reminder that life is cyclical. We must find meaning in the cycle of life and death, even as we confront our own mortality.
In the end, "It always felt to me--a wrong" is a powerful reminder that life is fragile and fleeting, but also beautiful and meaningful. We must confront the reality of our own mortality if we are to truly appreciate the beauty of life, and we must find meaning in the cycle of life and death if we are to live our lives to the fullest.
Conclusion: A Poem with Profound Significance
Emily Dickinson's "It always felt to me--a wrong" is a powerful work of art that confronts the human condition head-on. Through her use of language and imagery, she reminds us that life is fragile and fleeting, but also beautiful and meaningful. We must confront the reality of our own mortality if we are to truly appreciate the beauty of life, and we must find meaning in the cycle of life and death if we are to live our lives to the fullest.
As we read this poem, we are reminded that poetry and art have the power to move us, to make us feel emotions we wouldn't otherwise feel, and to teach us something about the world. Emily Dickinson's "It always felt to me--a wrong" is a perfect example of this power. It is a poem that will stay with us long after we have finished reading it, reminding us of the profound significance of the human condition.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
It always felt to me—a wrong is a classic poem written by Emily Dickinson. This poem is a perfect example of Dickinson's unique style of writing, which is characterized by her use of dashes, unconventional capitalization, and her ability to convey complex emotions through simple language. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in this poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem begins with the line "It always felt to me—a wrong," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is expressing a feeling of discomfort or unease, but the cause of this feeling is not immediately clear. As the poem progresses, we learn that the speaker is referring to the idea of death and the afterlife.
The first stanza of the poem describes the speaker's feelings about death. She says that it has always felt like a "wrong" to her, as if it is something that should not be happening. This is a common sentiment among many people, as death is often seen as a tragic and unfair event. The speaker goes on to say that she has never been able to accept the idea of death, and that it has always felt like a "strange mistake" to her.
The second stanza of the poem explores the speaker's thoughts on the afterlife. She says that she has always believed in the idea of an afterlife, but that she is not sure what it will be like. She describes it as a "land" that is "not discovered yet," which suggests that she sees it as a mysterious and unknown place. The speaker also says that she is not sure if she will be able to recognize her loved ones in the afterlife, which is a common fear among many people.
The third stanza of the poem is where the speaker's emotions really come to the surface. She says that the thought of death and the afterlife is so overwhelming that it makes her feel like she is "drowning." This is a powerful metaphor that conveys the speaker's sense of helplessness and fear. She also says that she feels like she is "losing all the time," which suggests that she sees death as a kind of defeat.
The final stanza of the poem is where the speaker finds some comfort in her thoughts about death and the afterlife. She says that even though she is afraid of death, she knows that it is a natural part of life. She also says that she believes in the idea of a "better life" after death, which suggests that she sees death as a kind of rebirth. The poem ends with the line "And that is always felt to me—a rest," which suggests that the speaker has found some peace in her thoughts about death and the afterlife.
One of the most striking things about this poem is its structure. The poem is written in four stanzas, each with four lines. This creates a sense of symmetry and balance that is pleasing to the ear. The use of dashes throughout the poem also adds to its unique structure. Dickinson often used dashes to create pauses or breaks in her poetry, which gives the reader time to reflect on what has been said.
Another important literary device used in this poem is metaphor. The speaker uses several metaphors to convey her emotions about death and the afterlife. For example, she describes death as a "strange mistake" and a "wrong," which suggests that she sees it as something that should not be happening. She also uses the metaphor of drowning to describe how she feels when she thinks about death, which conveys her sense of helplessness and fear.
In conclusion, It always felt to me—a wrong is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complex emotions surrounding death and the afterlife. Through her use of metaphor, structure, and literary devices, Emily Dickinson is able to convey the speaker's sense of unease, fear, and ultimately, acceptance. This poem is a testament to Dickinson's unique style of writing and her ability to convey complex emotions through simple language.
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