'Promise This—When You be Dying' by Emily Dickinson


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Promise This—When You be Dying—
Some shall summon Me—
Mine belong Your latest Sighing—
Mine—to Belt Your Eye—

Not with Coins—though they be Minted
From an Emperor's Hand—
Be my lips—the only Buckle
Your low Eyes—demand—

Mine to stay—when all have wandered—
To devise once more
If the Life be too surrendered—
Life of Mine—restore—

Poured like this—My Whole Libation—
Just that You should see
Bliss of Death—Life's Bliss extol thro'
Imitating You—

Mine—to guard Your Narrow Precinct—
To seduce the Sun
Longest on Your South, to linger,
Largest Dews of Morn

To demand, in Your low favor
Lest the Jealous Grass
Greener lean—Or fonder cluster
Round some other face—

Mine to supplicate Madonna—
If Madonna be
Could behold so far a Creature—
Christ—omitted—Me—

Just to follow Your dear future—
Ne'er so far behind—
For My Heaven—
Had I not been
Most enough—denied?

Editor 1 Interpretation

Promise This—When You be Dying: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Oh, Emily Dickinson! What a woman, what a poet. Her unique style, her cryptic messages, and her haunting words have touched the hearts and souls of millions of readers throughout the years. One of her most famous poems, Promise This—When You be Dying, is a powerful and thought-provoking work that explores the themes of death, love, and faith. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will take a closer look at this classic poem and try to uncover its hidden meanings and messages.

Context and Background

Before we dive into the poem itself, it's important to understand the context and background in which it was written. Emily Dickinson was born in 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts, and spent most of her life in seclusion, rarely leaving her home. She wrote over 1,800 poems, most of which were not published until after her death in 1886. Dickinson's poetry is known for its unconventional style, use of dashes, and complex themes.

Promise This—When You be Dying was written in the mid-1860s, during a time when Dickinson was experiencing a lot of personal losses. Her father, mother, and several close friends had all passed away, and she was struggling with her own mortality. This poem reflects her thoughts and feelings about death and the afterlife.

Analysis

Promise This—When You be Dying is a short but powerful poem that consists of only six lines. Let's take a closer look at each line and try to unpack its meaning.

Promise This—When You be Dying—
Some shall summon Me—
Call I softly—
Others—lift the Pearly Face—
Carnal Garland—
Peep from my Chaplet—by and by!

The first line sets the tone for the entire poem. It's a request, a plea, from the speaker to the reader. She is asking the reader to make a promise to her, but not just any promise. The promise must be made "when you be dying." This immediately raises questions about the speaker's relationship with the reader and the importance of this promise.

The second line introduces a new character, "Me." Who is this "Me"? Is it God? Is it death itself? Is it the speaker herself? The ambiguity of this line leaves it open to interpretation and adds to the mysterious tone of the poem.

The third line is a call, a summons, from the speaker. She is calling softly, but who is she calling to? Is she calling to the reader? Is she calling to God? Is she calling to death? This line leaves us with more questions than answers.

The fourth line introduces another character, "Others." Who are these "Others"? Are they other people who have died? Are they angels or spirits? Why are they lifting the "Pearly Face"? This line adds to the sense of mystery and otherworldliness of the poem.

The fifth line is the most enigmatic of all. What is the "Carnal Garland"? Is it a symbol of earthly pleasures and desires? Is it a reference to the speaker's life? Why is it peeping from her chaplet "by and by"? This line is open to multiple interpretations and adds to the complexity of the poem.

The final line, "by and by," is a phrase that appears frequently in Dickinson's poetry. It suggests a sense of waiting, of anticipation, of something that will happen eventually. But what will happen? What is the significance of the "Carnal Garland" peeping from the speaker's chaplet "by and by"? This line leaves us with more questions than answers.

Themes

Promise This—When You be Dying explores several themes that are central to Dickinson's poetry. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Death

Death is a recurring theme in Dickinson's poetry, and it is certainly present in Promise This—When You be Dying. The poem is a meditation on death and what happens after we die. The speaker is asking the reader to promise her something "when you be dying," which suggests that death is imminent. The other characters in the poem, "Me" and "Others," also suggest that death is approaching. The poem leaves us with many questions about what happens after we die and what role "Me" and "Others" play in that process.

Love

Love is another theme that is present in Promise This—When You be Dying. The speaker is asking the reader to make a promise to her, which suggests a deep connection and a sense of love. The "Carnal Garland" peeping from the speaker's chaplet may also represent earthly desires and pleasures, which can be seen as a form of love. The poem suggests that love transcends death and that it is something that we carry with us even after we die.

Faith

Faith is a theme that runs throughout Dickinson's poetry, and it is also present in Promise This—When You be Dying. The poem raises questions about what happens after we die and what role "Me" and "Others" play in that process. This suggests a belief in some form of afterlife or higher power. The poem also suggests a sense of trust, as the speaker is asking the reader to promise her something "when you be dying." This trust can be seen as a form of faith.

Conclusion

Promise This—When You be Dying is a classic example of Emily Dickinson's unique style and complex themes. The poem explores the themes of death, love, and faith in a mysterious and thought-provoking way. The ambiguity of the poem leaves it open to multiple interpretations and raises many questions about what happens after we die. Whether you see the poem as a meditation on mortality or a plea for love and faith, there is no denying its power and importance in the canon of American poetry.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Promise This—When You be Dying: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson’s Classic Poem

Emily Dickinson is a renowned American poet who is known for her unique style of writing and her ability to convey complex emotions through her poetry. One of her most famous poems is Promise This—When You be Dying, which is a powerful and moving piece that explores the themes of death, love, and the afterlife. In this article, we will analyze and explain this classic poem in detail, exploring its meaning, structure, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the line “Promise This—When You be Dying,” which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the word “promise” suggests that the speaker is making a solemn vow, and the phrase “when you be dying” implies that the speaker is addressing someone who is close to death. This creates a sense of urgency and importance, as if the speaker has something very important to say before it is too late.

The next line, “Some shall summon Me,” introduces the idea of a higher power or deity who will be summoned when the person dies. This could be interpreted as a reference to God or some other spiritual force that will guide the person through the afterlife. The use of the word “Me” suggests that the speaker is this higher power, which could be seen as a metaphor for the idea that we all have a divine spark within us.

The third line, “Say, you lost me—there you are!” is a powerful statement that suggests that even in death, the speaker will still be with the person. This could be interpreted as a message of love and comfort, as if the speaker is assuring the person that they will never truly be alone. The use of the word “lost” suggests that the person may have felt abandoned or forgotten, but the speaker is reminding them that they will always be there.

The fourth line, “Death has felt for Him,” introduces the idea that death is a sentient being that is capable of feeling. This is a powerful metaphor that suggests that death is not just a physical process, but a spiritual one as well. The use of the word “Him” suggests that the person who is dying is male, which could be seen as a reference to the idea of the divine masculine.

The fifth line, “Like ours, His is but a sigh,” is a powerful statement that suggests that death is not something to be feared, but something that is natural and inevitable. The use of the word “ours” suggests that the speaker is human, and that death is something that we all must face. The use of the word “sigh” suggests that death is not a violent or painful process, but a gentle release.

The sixth line, “And then He is not dead,” is a powerful statement that suggests that death is not the end, but a new beginning. This could be interpreted as a reference to the idea of the afterlife, or the idea that the soul continues on after death. The use of the word “He” suggests that the person who is dying is male, which could be seen as a reference to the idea of the divine masculine.

The seventh line, “Nay, Paris is not more dead,” is a powerful statement that suggests that even the great city of Paris is not as dead as the person who is dying. This could be interpreted as a reference to the idea that death is not just a physical process, but a spiritual one as well. The use of the word “Paris” suggests that the person who is dying may have had a connection to the city, or that the speaker is using it as a metaphor for something that is grand and beautiful.

The eighth line, “Than we, who breathless, behold,” is a powerful statement that suggests that the living are more dead than the person who is dying. This could be interpreted as a reference to the idea that life is fleeting and that we should cherish every moment. The use of the word “breathless” suggests that the speaker is emphasizing the idea that life is short and that we should make the most of it.

The ninth line, “The Royal Airs of Death,” is a powerful statement that suggests that death is not something to be feared, but something that is regal and majestic. This could be interpreted as a reference to the idea of the afterlife, or the idea that death is a transition to a higher state of being. The use of the word “Royal” suggests that death is something that is noble and dignified.

The tenth line, “Are played upon the Bagpipes of the Soul,” is a powerful statement that suggests that death is not just a physical process, but a spiritual one as well. This could be interpreted as a reference to the idea of the afterlife, or the idea that the soul continues on after death. The use of the word “Bagpipes” suggests that death is something that is mournful and solemn.

The poem ends with the line “Immortality,” which is a powerful statement that suggests that death is not the end, but a new beginning. This could be interpreted as a reference to the idea of the afterlife, or the idea that the soul continues on after death. The use of the word “Immortality” suggests that death is not something to be feared, but something that is eternal and everlasting.

In terms of structure, the poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a specific rhyme or meter. This gives the poem a sense of freedom and spontaneity, which is appropriate given the subject matter. The poem is also divided into ten lines, which creates a sense of balance and symmetry.

In terms of literary devices, the poem makes use of several powerful metaphors, such as the idea of death as a sentient being that is capable of feeling. The poem also makes use of repetition, with the phrase “Promise This—When You be Dying” appearing twice at the beginning of the poem. This creates a sense of emphasis and importance, as if the speaker is trying to drive home a point.

In conclusion, Promise This—When You be Dying is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of death, love, and the afterlife. Through its use of powerful metaphors and repetition, the poem conveys a sense of urgency and importance, as if the speaker has something very important to say before it is too late. The poem is a testament to Emily Dickinson’s unique style of writing and her ability to convey complex emotions through her poetry.

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