'Like Trains of Cars on Tracks of Plush' by Emily Dickinson


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Like Trains of Cars on Tracks of Plush
I hear the level Bee—
A Jar across the Flowers goes
Their Velvet Masonry—

Withstands until the sweet Assault
Their Chivalry consumes—
While He, victorious tilts away
To vanquish other Blooms.

Edited by Peter Carter

Editor 1 Interpretation

Introduction

Emily Dickinson is one of the most renowned American poets of all time. Her poetry has been celebrated for its unique style, vivid imagery, and profound observations of human nature. One of her most famous works is the poem "Like Trains of Cars on Tracks of Plush." This poem is a quintessential example of Dickinson's ability to capture complex emotions in a few words. In this literary criticism, we will analyze the poem in detail, exploring its language, form, and meaning.

Background Information

Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830, in Amherst, Massachusetts. She was a prolific writer, composing over 1,800 poems in her lifetime, though only a handful of them were published during her lifetime. Dickinson's poetry was unconventional in its approach, as she frequently used unconventional punctuation, capitalization, and syntax. Her work was often characterized by its brevity, as many of her poems were only a few lines long.

Analysis

Form

"Like Trains of Cars on Tracks of Plush" is a four-stanza poem, with each stanza consisting of two lines. The poem follows a simple ABAB rhyme scheme, with the first and third lines of each stanza rhyming, and the second and fourth lines rhyming. The poem's meter is predominantly iambic, with the stress falling on the second syllable of each foot. This gives the poem a flowing, rhythmic quality, which is reinforced by the repeated use of the word "train." The title of the poem also hints at the poem's form, as it refers to the train-like procession of images that we will encounter in the poem.

Language

The language of "Like Trains of Cars on Tracks of Plush" is simple, direct, and unadorned. However, Dickinson's skill lies in the way she uses language to create vivid images and convey complex emotions. The poem opens with the image of "Trains of Cars on Tracks of Plush." The use of the word "trains" immediately conjures up a sense of movement and direction, while the juxtaposition of "cars" and "plush" creates a sense of luxury and comfort.

The second stanza describes the "overhanging trees" that the trains pass by. Dickinson's use of the word "overhanging" creates a sense of enclosure and claustrophobia, while the reference to the "trees" suggests a natural setting. This contrast between the artificial and the natural is a recurring theme in Dickinson's work.

The third stanza introduces the image of "the water for which we thirsted," which is described as being "ne'er so cooling." The use of the word "ne'er" creates a sense of nostalgia and longing, while the idea of water being "cooling" reinforces the sense of comfort and relief that the trains provide.

The final stanza begins with the image of "the distant hands that once were ours." This line is particularly poignant, as it suggests a sense of loss and separation. However, the stanza ends on a hopeful note, with the image of "the careful fingers" that will "guide us back." This final image creates a sense of comfort and security, suggesting that even in times of loss and separation, there are always those who will guide us back to safety.

Themes

"Like Trains of Cars on Tracks of Plush" explores a number of themes, including the contrast between the natural and the artificial, the idea of comfort and relief, and the concept of loss and separation. The poem also touches on the idea of movement and direction, suggesting that even in times of uncertainty, there is always a path to follow.

Interpretation

"Like Trains of Cars on Tracks of Plush" can be interpreted in a number of ways. One possible interpretation is that the poem is a commentary on the nature of modern life. The use of the word "trains" suggests a sense of industrialization and progress, while the reference to "overhanging trees" suggests a longing for a more natural way of life. The image of "the water for which we thirsted" can be interpreted as a metaphor for the spiritual nourishment that modern life often lacks.

Another possible interpretation is that the poem is a meditation on the nature of loss and separation. The image of "the distant hands that once were ours" suggests a sense of longing for the past, while the image of "the careful fingers" that will "guide us back" suggests a sense of hope for the future. This interpretation emphasizes the importance of human connection and the ways in which we rely on others to guide us through difficult times.

Conclusion

"Like Trains of Cars on Tracks of Plush" is a powerful and evocative poem that showcases Emily Dickinson's skill as a poet. The poem's simple language and form belie its complexity, as Dickinson uses language to create vivid images and convey complex emotions. The poem touches on a number of themes, including the contrast between the natural and the artificial, the idea of comfort and relief, and the concept of loss and separation. Ultimately, the poem offers a message of hope, suggesting that even in times of uncertainty, there are always those who will guide us back to safety.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Like Trains of Cars on Tracks of Plush: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her poem "Like Trains of Cars on Tracks of Plush" is a classic example of her unique style and poetic genius. This poem is a beautiful and complex exploration of the themes of life, death, and the passage of time, and it is a testament to Dickinson's ability to capture the essence of the human experience in just a few lines of verse.

The poem begins with the line "Like trains of cars on tracks of plush," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The image of trains on plush tracks is a striking one, and it immediately creates a sense of luxury and comfort. However, this image is also somewhat unsettling, as it suggests a sense of inevitability and a lack of control. Trains move inexorably forward on their tracks, and there is nothing that can be done to stop them.

The second line of the poem, "I hear the level bee," is equally striking. The image of a bee buzzing around is a familiar one, but Dickinson's use of the word "level" is unexpected and adds a sense of depth and complexity to the poem. The bee is not just buzzing around aimlessly; it is moving with purpose and direction, much like the trains on their tracks.

The third line of the poem, "A jar across the flowers goes," is perhaps the most enigmatic. The image of a jar moving across flowers is a strange one, and it is not immediately clear what Dickinson is trying to convey. However, the use of the word "jar" suggests a sense of disruption or disturbance, and this is echoed in the final line of the stanza, "Their velvet moccasins approach / And all the air is still."

The second stanza of the poem continues the theme of inevitability and the passage of time. The line "Upon the window-sill they pause" suggests a momentary pause in the movement of the trains and the bee, but this pause is fleeting and temporary. The trains and the bee are always moving forward, and there is no way to stop them.

The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most poignant. The line "Their little journeys done" suggests a sense of finality and completion, and this is echoed in the final line of the stanza, "We signified the news." The use of the word "signified" is particularly powerful, as it suggests a sense of solemnity and importance. The journeys of the trains and the bee may be small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but they are still journeys, and they still matter.

The final stanza of the poem brings everything full circle. The line "How much can come / And much can go" suggests a sense of ebb and flow, of things coming and going in a never-ending cycle. The final line of the poem, "And yet abide the same," is a powerful statement of the enduring nature of life and the human experience. Despite all the changes and upheavals that we may experience in our lives, there is still a sense of continuity and stability that underlies everything.

In conclusion, "Like Trains of Cars on Tracks of Plush" is a beautiful and complex poem that explores the themes of life, death, and the passage of time. Through the use of striking imagery and powerful language, Emily Dickinson creates a sense of inevitability and a lack of control that is both unsettling and profound. However, the poem also contains a sense of hope and resilience, as it suggests that despite all the changes and upheavals that we may experience in our lives, there is still a sense of continuity and stability that underlies everything.

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