'Not seeing, still we know—' by Emily Dickinson
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Not seeing, still we know—
Not knowing, guess—
Not guessing, smile and hide
And half caress—
And quake—and turn away,
Seraphic fear—
Is Eden's innuendo
"If you dare"?
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
Not Seeing, Still We Know: A Deep Dive into Emily Dickinson's Poem
Emily Dickinson is widely considered one of the greatest American poets of all time. In her extensive collection of over 1700 poems, she explored themes such as death, nature, spirituality, and the human experience. One of her lesser-known but equally compelling works is "Not Seeing, Still We Know." In this essay, we will analyze and interpret this poem in detail, uncovering its hidden meanings and themes.
The Poem
Before we start our analysis, let's read the poem in full:
Not seeing, still we know—
As breathing—comes
Our own—
And since We know—
We know little
Still!
At first glance, the poem seems cryptic and difficult to understand. However, Emily Dickinson was known for her concise and enigmatic style, so we can expect that there is more to this poem than meets the eye. Let's break it down line by line and see what we can find.
Line 1: Not seeing, still we know—
The first line of the poem sets the tone for what is to come. It seems to suggest that there is a way of knowing that does not rely on sight. This is an interesting concept, as sight is often considered the most reliable and trustworthy sense. What could Dickinson be referring to here?
It's possible that she is alluding to intuition or a "sixth sense." Perhaps she means that there are things we can know without seeing them because we intuitively sense them. This interpretation is reinforced by the lack of punctuation at the end of the line, which suggests a continuation or flow of thought.
Line 2: As breathing—comes
The second line introduces a simile, comparing this way of knowing to breathing. Breathing is an automatic bodily function that we do without conscious thought, much like the way this knowledge comes to us. There is a sense of inevitability in this line, as if this way of knowing is an inherent part of us, like breathing.
Line 3: Our own—
The third line is short but significant. It establishes that this knowledge is personal to us, something that belongs to us individually. It sets up a contrast between what we know and what others may know, suggesting that this knowledge is not external or objective but internal and subjective.
Line 4: And since We know—
Here, the poem takes an interesting turn. The word "since" suggests that there is a reason or cause for this knowledge. It's possible that Dickinson is suggesting that this way of knowing comes from a deeper, more spiritual source than our conscious minds. The fact that she capitalizes "We" and "We know" could be seen as emphasizing this point, suggesting a collective consciousness or higher power.
Line 5: We know little
This line seems to contradict what has come before. If this knowledge comes from a deeper, spiritual source, shouldn't it be all-knowing? But Dickinson says we know "little." This could be seen as a commentary on the limitations of human knowledge, or perhaps a suggestion that this way of knowing is not the same as traditional knowledge based on observation and analysis.
Line 6: Still!
The final line is short and to the point. The exclamation mark suggests a sense of finality or emphasis. It's possible that Dickinson is suggesting that this way of knowing is enough, even if it is limited. The word "still" could be seen as a reaffirmation of the first line, suggesting that even though we know little, we can still know without seeing.
Interpretation
So what does it all mean? At its core, "Not Seeing, Still We Know" is a poem about the limitations of human knowledge and the possibility of a deeper, more intuitive way of knowing. By comparing this way of knowing to breathing, Dickinson suggests that it is a natural and inherent part of us, something that we do without conscious thought. This is reinforced by the use of "our own," which suggests a personal and subjective experience.
The fourth line introduces the idea that this way of knowing comes from a deeper, more spiritual source. The capitalization of "We" and "We know" suggests a collective consciousness or higher power, something that is beyond our individual selves. However, Dickinson also acknowledges the limitations of this way of knowing, suggesting that we "know little." This could be seen as a commentary on the limitations of human knowledge, or perhaps a suggestion that this way of knowing is not the same as traditional knowledge based on observation and analysis.
The final line, with its exclamation mark and the word "still," suggests a sense of finality or emphasis. Despite the limitations of this way of knowing, it is still valuable and meaningful. It may not provide us with all the answers, but it is a part of who we are and how we experience the world.
Conclusion
"Not Seeing, Still We Know" is a deceptively simple poem that explores complex themes of spirituality and human knowledge. Through her use of metaphor and concise, enigmatic language, Emily Dickinson creates a poem that is open to interpretation and invites the reader to explore its hidden meanings. By the end of the poem, we are left with a sense of the limitations of human knowledge, but also a sense of the importance of listening to our intuition and connecting with a deeper, more spiritual part of ourselves.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Not seeing, still we know— written by Emily Dickinson is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that speaks to the human experience of knowing something without necessarily seeing it. The poem is a testament to the power of intuition and the human ability to perceive things beyond the physical realm. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem is a short one, consisting of only four lines. However, within those four lines, Dickinson manages to convey a powerful message. The poem begins with the line, "Not seeing, still we know." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem and introduces the central theme of intuition. The speaker is suggesting that there are things that we can know without necessarily seeing them. This is a powerful statement that challenges our reliance on the physical world and encourages us to trust our instincts.
The second line of the poem reads, "Not knowing, how it stirs." This line is a continuation of the first and reinforces the idea that there are things that we can know without necessarily seeing them. The speaker is suggesting that there are things that can stir within us, even if we don't know what they are. This line is particularly powerful because it speaks to the human experience of feeling something without necessarily understanding it. It is a reminder that our emotions and intuition are just as important as our rational thoughts.
The third line of the poem reads, "Not seeing, still we feel." This line is a continuation of the first two and reinforces the idea that there are things that we can know without necessarily seeing them. The speaker is suggesting that there are things that we can feel, even if we can't see them. This line is particularly powerful because it speaks to the human experience of feeling something beyond the physical realm. It is a reminder that our emotions and intuition are just as important as our rational thoughts.
The final line of the poem reads, "Not knowing, how it flew." This line is a continuation of the second and third lines and reinforces the idea that there are things that we can know without necessarily seeing them. The speaker is suggesting that there are things that can fly away from us, even if we don't know what they are. This line is particularly powerful because it speaks to the human experience of losing something that we didn't even know we had. It is a reminder that there are things that we can lose without even realizing it.
The structure of the poem is simple but effective. The poem consists of four lines, each with a similar structure. The first three lines begin with the phrase "Not seeing" or "Not knowing," and the final line begins with the phrase "Not knowing." This repetition of structure reinforces the central theme of the poem and creates a sense of unity and coherence.
The poem also makes use of several literary devices to convey its message. The most prominent of these is repetition. The repetition of the phrases "Not seeing" and "Not knowing" creates a sense of rhythm and reinforces the central theme of the poem. The repetition of the phrase "how it" also creates a sense of rhythm and reinforces the idea that there are things that we can't fully understand.
Another literary device used in the poem is metaphor. The line "Not knowing, how it stirs" is a metaphor for the idea that there are things that can stir within us, even if we don't know what they are. The line "Not seeing, still we feel" is a metaphor for the idea that there are things that we can feel, even if we can't see them. These metaphors create a sense of depth and complexity in the poem and encourage the reader to think more deeply about its meaning.
In conclusion, Not seeing, still we know— written by Emily Dickinson is a powerful poem that speaks to the human experience of knowing something without necessarily seeing it. The poem encourages us to trust our instincts and reminds us that our emotions and intuition are just as important as our rational thoughts. The structure of the poem is simple but effective, and the use of repetition and metaphor creates a sense of rhythm and depth. Overall, this poem is a testament to the power of intuition and the human ability to perceive things beyond the physical realm.
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