''Twas just this time, last year, I died' by Emily Dickinson


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'Twas just this time, last year, I died.
I know I heard the Corn,
When I was carried by the Farms—
It had the Tassels on—

I thought how yellow it would look—
When Richard went to mill—
And then, I wanted to get out,
But something held my will.

I thought just how Red—Apples wedged
The Stubble's joints between—
And the Carts stooping round the fields
To take the Pumpkins in—

I wondered which would miss me, least,
And when Thanksgiving, came,
If Father'd multiply the plates—
To make an even Sum—

And would it blur the Christmas glee
My Stocking hang too high
For any Santa Claus to reach
The Altitude of me—

But this sort, grieved myself,
And so, I thought the other way,
How just this time, some perfect year—
Themself, should come to me—

Editor 1 Interpretation

Analysis and Interpretation of "Twas just this time, last year, I died" by Emily Dickinson

"Twas just this time, last year, I died" is a poem by Emily Dickinson that explores the themes of death and remembrance. It is a haunting and melancholic work that captures the narrator's sense of loss and longing for the past. In this essay, we will analyze and interpret the poem, paying close attention to its literary devices, themes, and motifs.

Form and Structure

"Twas just this time, last year, I died" is a short poem consisting of four stanzas, each with two lines. The poem has a simple and straightforward structure, with a regular rhyme scheme (ABCB) and meter. The use of iambic tetrameter gives the poem a rhythmic quality that is both soothing and melancholic.

Literary Devices

The poem makes use of several literary devices to create an atmosphere of sadness and longing. For example, the repetition of the phrase "just this time, last year" in the first line of each stanza emphasizes the narrator's sense of time passing and their inability to escape the past. The use of the past tense in the second line ("I died") further reinforces this sense of loss and finality.

Another important literary device used in the poem is imagery. The narrator describes themselves as a "ghost" and speaks of "the grass still clinging to my feet." These images evoke a sense of otherworldliness and detachment from the physical world, emphasizing the narrator's sense of being caught between life and death.

Themes

The central theme of the poem is death and its aftermath. The narrator is reflecting on their own death and the impact it has had on those they left behind. The poem is a meditation on the nature of grief and the struggle to come to terms with loss.

Another important theme in the poem is the passage of time. The narrator is fixated on the past, unable to move on from their own death. The repetition of the phrase "just this time, last year" emphasizes the narrator's sense of time passing and their inability to escape the past.

Motifs

One important motif in the poem is the idea of the afterlife. The narrator refers to themselves as a "ghost" and describes their experience of death in otherworldly terms. This motif emphasizes the narrator's sense of being caught between life and death, unable to fully move on from their mortal existence.

Another important motif in the poem is nature. The narrator speaks of "the grass still clinging to my feet" and the "dew upon the grass." These images evoke a sense of natural beauty and tranquility, emphasizing the narrator's sense of being at peace with the world around them.

Interpretation

"Twas just this time, last year, I died" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the essence of grief and loss. The poem is notable for its use of repetition, imagery, and motifs to create an atmosphere of sadness and longing.

The poem can be read as a meditation on the nature of death and the afterlife. The narrator's description of themselves as a "ghost" and their experience of death in otherworldly terms suggests that they are caught between life and death, unable to fully move on from their mortal existence. The poem can be read as a reflection on the mystery of death and the uncertainty of what lies beyond.

Another possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a reflection on the passage of time. The repetition of the phrase "just this time, last year" emphasizes the narrator's fixation on the past and their sense of time passing. The poem can be read as a meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the struggle to come to terms with its transience.

Ultimately, "Twas just this time, last year, I died" is a poem that speaks to the universal experiences of grief, loss, and the passage of time. Its haunting imagery and melancholic tone make it a work that resonates deeply with readers, inviting us to reflect on our own mortality and the nature of the world around us.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

‘Twas just this time, last year, I died’ is a classic poem written by Emily Dickinson. This poem is a reflection of the poet’s thoughts on death and the afterlife. The poem is a beautiful and poignant piece of literature that has captured the hearts of readers for generations. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.

The poem begins with the line ‘’Twas just this time, last year, I died’’. This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is reflecting on their own death, which occurred a year ago. The use of the word ‘’Twas’’ is an archaic form of ‘’It was’’. This use of language gives the poem a timeless quality, making it relevant even today.

The second line of the poem reads, ‘’I know I heard the Corn, When I was carried by the Farms’’. This line is a reference to the speaker’s funeral procession. The speaker is saying that they heard the sound of the corn rustling as they were carried by the farms. The use of the word ‘’carried’’ is significant here. It implies that the speaker was not walking but was being carried, which suggests that they were dead.

The third line of the poem reads, ‘’It had the Tassels on—’’. This line is a reference to the corn that the speaker heard. The tassels on the corn are the long, silky strands that grow from the top of the corn. The use of the word ‘’had’’ implies that the corn no longer has tassels, which suggests that the speaker is no longer alive.

The fourth line of the poem reads, ‘’I thought how yellow it would look— When Richard went to mill—’’. This line is a reference to the speaker’s brother, Richard. The speaker is saying that they thought about how yellow the corn would look when Richard went to mill. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker is still thinking about their family even though they are dead.

The fifth line of the poem reads, ‘’He came back with a bag of Gold—’’. This line is a reference to Richard coming back from the mill with a bag of gold. The use of the word ‘’gold’’ is significant here because it implies that Richard has become wealthy. This line also shows that life goes on even after the speaker’s death.

The sixth line of the poem reads, ‘’And all the Hills were gay—’’. This line is a reference to the hills that the speaker can see from their grave. The use of the word ‘’gay’’ is significant here because it implies that the hills are happy. This line also shows that life goes on even after the speaker’s death.

The seventh line of the poem reads, ‘’He put it in my small, small Hand—’’. This line is a reference to Richard putting the bag of gold in the speaker’s hand. The use of the word ‘’small’’ twice is significant here because it implies that the speaker is small and fragile, which suggests that they are dead.

The eighth line of the poem reads, ‘’And choked me with a Rind—’’. This line is a reference to the speaker being choked by a rind. The use of the word ‘’choked’’ is significant here because it implies that the speaker is struggling to breathe. The use of the word ‘’rind’’ is also significant because it implies that the speaker is being suffocated by something.

The ninth line of the poem reads, ‘’I died for Beauty—but was scarce’’. This line is significant because it is the first time that the speaker explicitly states that they are dead. The use of the word ‘’scarce’’ is significant here because it implies that the speaker’s death was not noticed by many people.

The tenth line of the poem reads, ‘’Adjusted in the Tomb’’. This line is a reference to the speaker being buried in their tomb. The use of the word ‘’adjusted’’ is significant here because it implies that the speaker is comfortable in their tomb.

The eleventh line of the poem reads, ‘’When One who died for Truth, was lain In an adjoining Room—’’. This line is a reference to someone else who has died and is buried in an adjoining room. The use of the word ‘’Truth’’ is significant here because it implies that the person who died was a martyr.

The twelfth line of the poem reads, ‘’He questioned softly ‘Why I failed’? ‘For Beauty’, I replied—’’. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker is being questioned by the person who died for truth. The use of the word ‘’softly’’ is significant here because it implies that the person who died for truth is not angry or aggressive.

The thirteenth line of the poem reads, ‘’‘And I—for Truth—Themself are One— We Brethren, are’, He said—’’. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker and the person who died for truth are brothers. The use of the word ‘’Brethren’’ is significant here because it implies that the two are part of a larger community.

The fourteenth line of the poem reads, ‘’And so, as Kinsmen, met a Night— We talked between the Rooms—’’. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker and the person who died for truth are talking to each other. The use of the word ‘’Kinsmen’’ is significant here because it implies that the two are related.

The fifteenth line of the poem reads, ‘’Until the Moss had reached our lips— And covered up—our names—’’. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker and the person who died for truth are slowly being forgotten. The use of the word ‘’Moss’’ is significant here because it implies that the two are being covered up by nature.

In conclusion, ‘’Twas just this time, last year, I died’’ is a beautiful and poignant poem that reflects on death and the afterlife. The poem is a reflection of the poet’s thoughts on death and the afterlife. The poem is a beautiful and poignant piece of literature that has captured the hearts of readers for generations. The use of language and imagery in the poem is significant because it creates a timeless quality that makes the poem relevant even today.

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