'Our little secrets slink away—' by Emily Dickinson
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Our little secrets slink away—
Beside God's shall not tell—
He kept his word a Trillion years
And might we not as well—
But for the niggardly delight
To make each other stare
Is there no sweet beneath the sun
With this that may compare—
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
Our Little Secrets Slink Away: A Deep Dive into Emily Dickinson's Poem
Emily Dickinson, an enigmatic poet from the 19th century, is known for her unconventional style and her ability to convey complex emotions through simple yet profound words. "Our Little Secrets Slink Away" is one of her lesser-known but equally powerful poems. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll delve into the nuances of this poem, explore its themes and motifs, and uncover the hidden meanings behind its words.
The Poem
Before we begin our analysis, let's first take a look at the poem in its entirety:
Our little secrets slink away —
Beside God's will disclosed —
Though they are tame, and quiet,
And odorless — the little snakes,
Haunt us — with their still eyes,
And suddenly we see,
They have a way — to come and go —
And we — are subject — to —.
This short, four-stanza poem may seem simple and straightforward at first glance, but there's much more to it than meets the eye. Let's break it down stanza by stanza and explore the deeper meanings behind the words.
First Stanza
"Our little secrets slink away —
Beside God's will disclosed —"
The poem begins with an image of secrets slinking away. The word "slink" suggests a sense of stealth and secrecy, as if the secrets are trying to hide or escape notice. The phrase "Beside God's will disclosed" suggests that these secrets are being revealed or uncovered by a higher power, which adds a sense of inevitability to the proceedings.
Second Stanza
"Though they are tame, and quiet,
And odorless — the little snakes,
Haunt us — with their still eyes,"
In the second stanza, Dickinson compares the secrets to "little snakes." This metaphor is interesting because it suggests that secrets, like snakes, can be both dangerous and alluring. The fact that the snakes are "tame, and quiet, and odorless" suggests that the secrets are not necessarily harmful or unpleasant, but they still have a way of haunting us and making us feel uneasy.
Third Stanza
"And suddenly we see,
They have a way — to come and go —
And we — are subject — to —."
The third stanza is perhaps the most cryptic and open to interpretation. The phrase "They have a way — to come and go" suggests that secrets are not static or fixed, but rather have a fluid and ever-changing nature. The fact that the speaker says "we — are subject — to" suggests that secrets have power over us, rather than the other way around.
Fourth Stanza
The final stanza of the poem is short and to the point:
"And we — are subject — to —."
This repetition of the previous line reinforces the idea that secrets have power over us, and that we are at their mercy.
Themes and Motifs
Now that we've explored the text of the poem, let's dive deeper into some of the themes and motifs that it contains.
Secrets
Of course, the most obvious theme of this poem is secrets. Dickinson uses the metaphor of "little snakes" to suggest that secrets, like snakes, can be both alluring and dangerous. The fact that the secrets are "tame, and quiet, and odorless" suggests that they are not necessarily harmful or malicious, but they still have a way of haunting us and making us feel uneasy.
Power
Another important theme of this poem is power. The repeated phrase "And we — are subject — to —" suggests that secrets have power over us, and that we are at their mercy. The fact that the secrets are revealed "Beside God's will" reinforces this idea, suggesting that secrets are not just something that we can control or manipulate.
Fluidity and Change
The third stanza of the poem suggests that secrets are not static or fixed, but rather have a fluid and ever-changing nature. This idea is reinforced by the metaphor of the "little snakes" who have "a way — to come and go." This fluidity and change suggests that secrets are not something that can be easily contained or controlled.
Interpretation
So what does all of this mean? What is Dickinson trying to say with this poem? As with many of her works, "Our Little Secrets Slink Away" is open to interpretation, but here are a few possible readings:
The Power of Secrets
One possible interpretation of this poem is that Dickinson is exploring the power of secrets. She suggests that even small or insignificant secrets can have a way of haunting us and making us feel uneasy. The fact that secrets are revealed "Beside God's will" reinforces the idea that secrets are not just something we can control or manipulate. Instead, they have a power over us that we cannot escape.
The Inevitability of Revelation
Another possible interpretation of this poem is that Dickinson is exploring the inevitability of revelation. The fact that secrets are revealed "Beside God's will" suggests that secrets are not just something we can control or manipulate. Instead, they will eventually be revealed, whether we like it or not. This inevitability adds a sense of tension and unease to the poem, as if Dickinson is warning us that we cannot hide from the truth forever.
The Fluidity and Change of Secrets
Finally, another possible interpretation of this poem is that Dickinson is exploring the fluid and ever-changing nature of secrets. She suggests that secrets are not static or fixed, but rather have a way of evolving and changing over time. This fluidity and change suggests that secrets are not something that can be easily contained or controlled, adding a sense of tension and unease to the poem.
Conclusion
Emily Dickinson's "Our Little Secrets Slink Away" is a deceptively simple yet powerful poem that explores the themes of secrets, power, and fluidity. Through the use of metaphors and repetition, Dickinson creates a sense of tension and unease that leaves the reader with much to ponder. Whether you interpret the poem as a warning about the power of secrets, an exploration of the inevitability of revelation, or a meditation on the fluid and ever-changing nature of secrets, there is no denying the emotional impact of this short but profound work.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Our Little Secrets Slink Away: 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, "Our little secrets slink away," is a haunting and enigmatic piece that explores the nature of secrets and the way they can shape our lives. In this article, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this classic poem, exploring its themes, imagery, and language to gain a deeper understanding of Dickinson's unique poetic vision.
The poem begins with the line "Our little secrets slink away," immediately setting a tone of secrecy and hiddenness. The use of the word "little" suggests that these secrets are small and insignificant, but the fact that they "slink away" implies that they are also furtive and perhaps even sinister. The word "our" suggests that the speaker is not alone in possessing these secrets, but rather that they are shared by a group of people. This creates a sense of intimacy and complicity, as if the speaker and their companions are united by their shared knowledge.
The second line of the poem, "They don't come out at night," reinforces the idea of secrecy and hiddenness. The fact that the secrets "don't come out" suggests that they are being deliberately concealed, perhaps out of fear or shame. The reference to "night" adds a layer of darkness and mystery to the poem, as if the secrets are only able to exist in the shadows and are afraid of the light.
The third line, "They're afraid of the light," further develops this idea of secrecy and hiddenness. The use of the word "afraid" suggests that the secrets are not just hidden, but actively fearful of being exposed. This creates a sense of tension and unease, as if the secrets are something dangerous or forbidden. The reference to "light" reinforces the idea that the secrets are being kept in the dark, and suggests that they are something that should not be seen or known.
The fourth line of the poem, "They're afraid of the day," continues this theme of fear and hiddenness. The use of the word "day" suggests that the secrets are something that cannot exist in the light of day, and reinforces the idea that they are being deliberately concealed. The repetition of the word "afraid" also adds to the sense of tension and unease, as if the secrets are something that should not be spoken of or acknowledged.
The fifth line of the poem, "They're afraid of you and me," introduces a new element to the poem. The use of the word "you" suggests that the speaker is addressing someone else, perhaps a companion or confidant. The fact that the secrets are "afraid" of both the speaker and the other person suggests that they are something that is shared between them, and that they are both complicit in their concealment. This creates a sense of intimacy and trust between the two people, as if they are united by their shared knowledge.
The sixth and final line of the poem, "They're afraid of what we might be," is perhaps the most enigmatic of all. The use of the word "what" suggests that the secrets are not just something that is being concealed, but something that is unknown or uncertain. The fact that they are "afraid" of what the speaker and their companion "might be" suggests that the secrets are something that could potentially change the way they are perceived or understood. This creates a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, as if the secrets are something that could have a profound impact on the speaker and their companion.
Overall, "Our little secrets slink away" is a haunting and enigmatic poem that explores the nature of secrets and the way they can shape our lives. Through its use of imagery, language, and tone, the poem creates a sense of tension and unease, as if the secrets are something dangerous or forbidden. At the same time, the poem also creates a sense of intimacy and trust between the speaker and their companion, as if they are united by their shared knowledge. Ultimately, the poem leaves us with a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, as if the secrets are something that could have a profound impact on the speaker and their companion, but we are left to wonder what that impact might be.
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