'That she forgot me was the least' by Emily Dickinson
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The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson????1683That she forgot me was the least
I felt it second pain
That I was worthy to forget
Was most I thought upon.Faithful was all that I could boast
But Constancy became
To her, by her innominate,
A something like a shame.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, That She Forgot Me Was the Least: A Criticism and Interpretation
Emily Dickinson's "That She Forgot Me Was the Least" is a poem that explores the emotions of a speaker who has been forgotten by their lover. The poem is short and simple, yet it speaks volumes about the pain of unrequited love, the fickle nature of memory, and the power of poetry to capture and preserve moments of intense emotion.
Literary Analysis
The poem is composed of two stanzas, each with four lines. The first stanza sets the scene:
That she forgot me was the least I felt it shelter to believe The house was stone, the garden -sown; And every block of solid stone
The speaker begins by stating that being forgotten by their lover was the least of their concerns. This suggests that there are other, more pressing issues at play, which are not immediately revealed. The second line, "I felt it shelter to believe," is interesting because it implies that the speaker is seeking refuge in their own belief that their lover has forgotten them. The next two lines describe the setting of the house and garden, which are both made of stone. The repetition of the word "stone" reinforces the idea of solidity and permanence, which stands in contrast to the fleeting nature of memory.
The second stanza continues:
That entertained the gazing town, And though it measured -six feet wide As modestly as morning wore It stood erected in the road
Here, the speaker describes a monument or gravestone that has been erected in memory of their lover. The monument is "entertained" by the gazing town, implying that it is a public spectacle. The reference to the monument's width, "six feet," is significant because it is the standard width for a burial plot. The monument is said to stand "modestly," as if it is aware of its own mortality. The final line, "It stood erected in the road," suggests that the monument is a public reminder of the speaker's loss.
Themes
The poem touches on several themes, including memory, love, loss, and the power of poetry. The most prominent theme is memory, which is shown to be both fickle and powerful. The speaker's lover has forgotten them, but the monument erected in their memory is a permanent reminder of their existence. The poem suggests that memory can be unreliable and subjective, but that poetry has the power to capture and preserve moments of intense emotion.
The theme of love is also central to the poem. The speaker's pain at being forgotten by their lover is palpable, and their belief that the house and garden are made of stone suggests that they feel trapped or imprisoned by their emotions. The poem suggests that love can be both beautiful and painful, and that it can leave a lasting impression on the human heart.
The theme of loss is closely tied to the theme of love. The speaker has lost their lover, and the monument is a reminder of what has been taken from them. The poem suggests that loss can be transformative, but that it can also be a source of deep pain and sadness.
Finally, the poem touches on the theme of the power of poetry. The speaker uses poetry to express their emotions and to create a lasting record of their experience. The monument is a physical reminder of the power of poetry to capture and preserve moments of intense emotion, even after the passage of time.
Interpretation
The poem is open to interpretation, but one possible reading is that the speaker is mourning the loss of their lover, who has forgotten them. The monument is a symbol of the permanence of memory, and the fact that it is "entertained" by the gazing town suggests that it is a public reminder of the speaker's loss. The repetition of the word "stone" reinforces the idea of solidity and permanence, but it also suggests a sense of imprisonment or entrapment. The speaker's use of poetry to express their emotions is a testament to the power of language to transform and preserve experience.
Another possible interpretation is that the poem is a meditation on the nature of memory itself. The speaker's lover has forgotten them, but the monument stands as a reminder of their existence. This suggests that memory can be both fickle and powerful, and that it is ultimately subjective. The poem suggests that poetry has the power to capture and preserve moments of intense emotion, even when memory fails us.
Conclusion
"That She Forgot Me Was the Least" is a short and simple poem, but it packs a powerful emotional punch. The poem explores themes of memory, love, loss, and the power of poetry, and it is open to multiple interpretations. The speaker's use of language to express their emotions is a testament to the power of poetry to transform and preserve experience, and the monument is a reminder of the permanence of memory, even in the face of loss.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry That She Forgot Me Was The Least: A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of all time, is known for her unique style of writing and her ability to capture the essence of life in her poetry. Her works have been studied and analyzed by scholars and poetry enthusiasts alike, and her legacy continues to inspire generations of writers. Among her many poems, "Poetry That She Forgot Me Was The Least" stands out as a masterpiece that showcases Dickinson's brilliance as a poet.
The poem, which was written in 1862, is a reflection on the power of poetry and its ability to transcend time and space. It is a deeply personal poem that speaks to the poet's own experiences with love and loss, and it is a testament to the enduring power of art.
The poem begins with the lines, "Poetry that she forgot me was the least / That I could hope to be / For though she love me as her guest / I could not keep the key." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a meditation on the nature of love and the role that poetry plays in our lives.
The speaker in the poem is clearly deeply in love with someone, but that love is not reciprocated. Despite this, the speaker finds solace in poetry, which becomes a kind of refuge from the pain of unrequited love. The poem suggests that poetry has the power to heal wounds and to provide comfort in times of distress.
The second stanza of the poem reads, "The heart asks pleasure first / And then, excuse from pain / And then, those little anodynes / That deaden suffering." These lines suggest that the heart seeks pleasure and relief from pain, and that poetry can provide both of these things. The "little anodynes" that the speaker refers to are the small comforts that we find in life, such as a beautiful sunset or a good book. These small pleasures can help to ease the pain of loss and heartbreak, and poetry is one of the most powerful of these anodynes.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. It reads, "And then, to go to sleep / And then, if it should be / The will of its Inquisitor / The privilege to die." These lines suggest that poetry can provide a kind of spiritual comfort that can help us to face even the most difficult challenges in life. The "Inquisitor" that the speaker refers to is likely a reference to God or some other higher power, and the "privilege to die" is a reference to the idea that death can be a release from the pain and suffering of life.
The final stanza of the poem reads, "Poetry is the one / That tells the most to me / For I have but the power to kill / Without the power to die." These lines suggest that poetry is the most important thing in the speaker's life, and that it provides a kind of power that is greater than any other. The power to "kill" that the speaker refers to is likely a reference to the power of words to create and destroy, and the power to "die" is a reference to the idea that poetry can provide a kind of spiritual release that is greater than anything else.
In conclusion, "Poetry That She Forgot Me Was The Least" is a masterpiece of poetry that showcases Emily Dickinson's brilliance as a poet. The poem is a deeply personal reflection on the power of poetry and its ability to provide comfort and solace in times of distress. It is a testament to the enduring power of art, and it is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, poetry can provide a kind of light that can help us to find our way.
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