'Like Flowers, that heard the news of Dews' by Emily Dickinson


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Like Flowers, that heard the news of Dews,
But never deemed the dripping prize
Awaited their—low Brows—
Or Bees—that thought the Summer's name
Some rumor of Delirium,
No Summer—could—for Them—

Or Arctic Creatures, dimly stirred—
By Tropic Hint—some Travelled Bird
Imported to the Wood—

Or Wind's bright signal to the Ear—
Making that homely, and severe,
Contented, known, before—

The Heaven—unexpected come,
To Lives that thought the Worshipping
A too presumptuous Psalm—

Editor 1 Interpretation

Like Flowers That Heard the News of Dews: A Literary Criticism

Emily Dickinson's poem "Like Flowers That Heard the News of Dews" is a fascinating exploration of the interplay between nature and human emotions. The poem, written in Dickinson's characteristic style of short stanzas and unconventional punctuation, employs a range of poetic devices to create a vivid image of flowers reacting to the news of dews.

At the heart of the poem is the idea that nature is not just a passive backdrop to human life but is instead an active participant in our emotional experiences. The flowers in the poem are anthropomorphized, given human qualities such as the ability to hear and respond to news. This anthropomorphism is a common technique in literature, used to make nature more relatable to human readers. However, in Dickinson's poem, it also serves to blur the boundaries between human and non-human, suggesting that the natural world is not as separate from us as we might think.

The title of the poem, "Like Flowers That Heard the News of Dews," sets the tone for the entire piece. The comparison of flowers to humans who have heard news emphasizes the idea that nature is not just a passive backdrop but an active force. The news in question is the arrival of dews, which is significant because dews are often associated with renewal and freshness. The arrival of dews signals a new beginning, a chance for growth and rejuvenation.

The first stanza of the poem sets the scene: "Like flowers that heard the news of dews, / But never deemed the dripping prize / Awaited their low Brows," (1-3). The flowers are personified as listeners, able to hear the news of the dews. However, they are also characterized as not fully understanding the significance of the news. The phrase "never deemed the dripping prize" suggests that the flowers are unaware of the potential benefits of the dews.

The second stanza continues this theme of the flowers' lack of awareness: "Or Bees, that thought the Summer's name / Some rumor of Delirium / No Summer could for them / Be done" (4-7). The bees are also personified, this time as thinkers. They are depicted as unable to fully grasp the concept of summer, as though it is beyond their comprehension. This reinforces the idea that nature is not just a passive backdrop, but an active participant in our emotional experiences.

The third stanza begins to shift the tone of the poem: "But, as some one just spoke, the Wren / Exultant bore away / On her reiterate Earliest Longest Day / The message, that she heard" (8-12). The arrival of the wren changes the scene from passive listening to active communication. The wren is able to convey the news of the dews to the other flowers and bees. This suggests that nature is not just a collection of individuals, but a community that can communicate and share information.

The fourth stanza builds on this idea of community: "The Tall-nut's Bashful Flower / Himself, on her departing Train / Following in trust / His little Thrill of Life" (13-16). The Tall-nut's bashful flower is characterized as a follower, someone who trusts and relies on the community. The phrase "His little Thrill of Life" suggests that the flower's existence is dependent on the community around it. This reinforces the idea that nature is not just a backdrop but an active force that sustains us.

The final stanza brings the poem to a close: "The Joy that has no stem no core / Nor seed that we can sow, / Is edible to Faith" (17-19). The joy that the flowers and bees experience is not tangible or material, but instead, it is a feeling of renewal and rejuvenation. The phrase "edible to Faith" suggests that this joy is something that can be experienced by those who have faith in the natural world.

Overall, Dickinson's poem "Like Flowers That Heard the News of Dews" is a powerful exploration of the interplay between nature and human emotions. Through the use of anthropomorphism, Dickinson blurs the boundaries between human and non-human, suggesting that the natural world is not as separate from us as we might think. The poem also emphasizes the idea that nature is not just a passive backdrop, but an active force that sustains us and contributes to our emotional experiences.

As a literary critic, I cannot help but feel excited by the many layers of meaning in this poem. Dickinson's use of language and poetic devices is masterful, creating a vivid and engaging image of the natural world. "Like Flowers That Heard the News of Dews" is a poem that rewards close reading and careful consideration, and it is worth exploring in depth.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Like Flowers, that heard the news of Dews: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her works continue to inspire and captivate readers to this day. One of her most famous poems, "Like Flowers, that heard the news of Dews," is a beautiful and poignant piece that explores the themes of life, death, and the natural world. In this analysis, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the line "Like Flowers, that heard the news of Dews," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The image of flowers hearing the news of dews is a powerful one, as it suggests that the flowers are alive and aware of their surroundings. This idea is reinforced in the next line, which reads "But scarce believed them selves," indicating that the flowers are surprised by the news they have received.

The poem then goes on to describe the dews themselves, saying that they are "cool, amber, unaware." This description is interesting because it suggests that the dews are not conscious or aware of their own existence. They simply exist, like a force of nature, without any sense of self or purpose.

The next few lines of the poem describe the flowers' reaction to the dews. They "bow" and "sway" in response to the news, as if they are acknowledging the presence of the dews. This image is particularly powerful because it suggests that the flowers are not just passive objects in the natural world, but active participants who are capable of responding to their environment.

As the poem continues, it becomes clear that the dews are a metaphor for death. The line "And seemed to die too" suggests that the flowers are aware of their own mortality, and that the news of the dews has reminded them of their own eventual demise. This idea is reinforced in the next line, which reads "Ten thousand places there, that morning, were." This line suggests that death is a universal experience, and that the flowers are just one small part of a much larger cycle of life and death.

The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful. They read:

"Yet, scarcer, than the wonder That so unknown a guest Should have wandered here! "

These lines suggest that the flowers are amazed by the presence of the dews, and that they find it incredible that something so mysterious and unknown could have come into their world. This idea is particularly poignant because it suggests that the flowers are aware of their own limitations and the limitations of their world. They are amazed by the dews because they represent something beyond their own experience and understanding.

In conclusion, "Like Flowers, that heard the news of Dews" is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores the themes of life, death, and the natural world. Through the use of vivid imagery and metaphor, Emily Dickinson creates a world in which flowers are alive and aware, and death is a universal experience that touches everything. The poem is a testament to Dickinson's skill as a poet, and her ability to capture the beauty and complexity of the world around us.

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