'I see thee clearer for the Grave' by Emily Dickinson
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The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson????1666I see thee clearer for the Grave
That took thy face between
No Mirror could illumine thee
Like that impassive stone-I know thee better for the Act
That made thee first unknown
The stature of the empty nest
Attests the Bird that's gone.
Editor 1 Interpretation
I See Thee Clearer for the Grave: A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson
Have you ever read a literary work that leaves you in awe of the writer's ability to convey complex emotions with just a few words? That is the kind of feeling one gets when reading Emily Dickinson's "I See Thee Clearer for the Grave." This poem is a masterpiece of poetic expression that captures the essence of grief, longing, and hope in just eight lines.
The Poem
Before delving into an analysis of the poem, let us first read it in full:
I see thee clearer for the Grave
That took thy face between
No Mirror could illumine thee
Like that impassive stone -
I touch thee clearer for the
Grave
That took thee so - away -
As Passion flowers, doth dry
Corroborating clay -
I hear thee better for the
Grave
That keepest hard thy breath
Choked voices, like a
Flood recede to breathless
Death -
And were the Life that
Pleased thee
Untainted by its Odds -
But what were Life? Thy
Smile - indeed - is thee
and God's -
An Interpretation
At first glance, "I See Thee Clearer for the Grave" may seem like a poem about death and loss. And while those themes do play a significant role, there is much more to this poem than meets the eye. Let us examine each stanza of the poem and try to understand what Dickinson is trying to convey.
Stanza One
The opening stanza of the poem sets the tone for everything that follows. Dickinson writes, "I see thee clearer for the Grave / That took thy face between / No Mirror could illumine thee / Like that impassive stone."
Here, the speaker is saying that they see the deceased person more clearly now that they are in the grave. This may seem like a strange thing to say, but what Dickinson is getting at is that death has a way of revealing the true essence of a person. When a person is alive, they wear masks and put up facades to protect themselves from the world. But in death, all of that is stripped away, and the true person is revealed.
The line "No Mirror could illumine thee / Like that impassive stone" is particularly powerful. Dickinson is saying that even a mirror cannot show a person's true self as well as the grave can. This is because mirrors reflect only the surface of a person, while the grave reveals their innermost being.
Stanza Two
The second stanza of the poem reads, "I touch thee clearer for the / Grave / That took thee so - away - / As Passion flowers, doth dry / Corroborating clay."
Here, the speaker is saying that they can touch the deceased person more clearly now that they are in the grave. The use of the word "passion" in the line "As Passion flowers, doth dry" is significant because it suggests that the person who has died lived a life filled with passion and emotion. The line "Corroborating clay" is also interesting because it suggests that the deceased person's body is now just clay or dirt.
However, the use of the word "corroborating" is crucial here because it suggests that the person's physical body is still somehow connected to their spirit or soul. This is a theme that Dickinson often explores in her poetry - the idea that the physical and spiritual worlds are intertwined.
Stanza Three
The final stanza of the poem reads, "I hear thee better for the / Grave / That keepest hard thy breath / Choked voices, like a / Flood recede to breathless / Death -"
Here, the speaker is saying that they can hear the deceased person better now that they are in the grave. The use of the word "keepest" is significant because it suggests that the grave is somehow keeping the person's breath or spirit trapped inside. This is a common theme in many cultures, where the spirit is believed to linger around the body after death.
The line "Choked voices, like a / Flood recede to breathless / Death -" is also interesting because it suggests that the person's voice was somehow stifled or silenced during their lifetime. Again, this is a theme that Dickinson explores in many of her poems - the idea that society often silences those who are different or unconventional.
Finally, the last two lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful. Dickinson writes, "And were the Life that / Pleased thee / Untainted by its Odds - / But what were Life? Thy / Smile - indeed - is thee / and God's -"
Here, the speaker is saying that even though the deceased person's life may not have been perfect, their smile is what defined them. The use of the word "God's" in the last line is also significant because it suggests that the person's spirit is now with God.
Conclusion
"I See Thee Clearer for the Grave" is a masterpiece of poetic expression that captures the essence of grief, longing, and hope. Through her use of language and imagery, Dickinson is able to convey complex emotions with just a few words. This poem is a testament to her skill as a poet and her ability to explore the deepest parts of the human experience.
If you have never read this poem before, I highly recommend that you do so. It is a work of art that will leave you in awe of Dickinson's ability to capture the essence of life and death in just eight lines.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her poem "I see thee clearer for the Grave" is a classic example of her unique style and poetic genius. This poem is a beautiful and haunting meditation on the nature of death, love, and memory, and it is a testament to Dickinson's ability to capture the essence of the human experience in just a few lines of verse.
At its core, "I see thee clearer for the Grave" is a love poem, but it is not a conventional one. Instead of celebrating the joys of love and the beauty of life, Dickinson focuses on the pain and sorrow that come with the loss of a loved one. The poem is addressed to someone who has died, and the speaker is reflecting on the ways in which death has changed their relationship.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for what is to come. Dickinson writes, "I see thee clearer for the Grave / That took thy face between / A light bestowed away from life / For thee and me to see." Here, the speaker is acknowledging the reality of death and the fact that it has taken the physical presence of the person they love. However, the speaker also suggests that there is a kind of clarity that comes with death, a new way of seeing and understanding the person who has passed away.
The second stanza of the poem is where Dickinson really begins to explore the themes of memory and love. She writes, "Who never lost, are unprepared / A Coronet to find / When all the rest of life is dead / Except the light of God." Here, the speaker is suggesting that those who have never experienced loss are not prepared for the pain and sorrow that comes with it. The "Coronet" that the speaker refers to is a symbol of the love and memories that they shared with the person who has died. The rest of life may be dead, but the light of God (or perhaps the light of memory) remains.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Dickinson writes, "Remembered, if outlived by me / I will not deem thee dead / I'll linger in the grave to prove / That love can never die." Here, the speaker is making a bold statement about the power of love and memory. Even though the person they love has died, they will never truly be gone as long as the speaker remembers them. The speaker even suggests that they will "linger in the grave" to prove this point, which is a powerful and haunting image.
The final stanza of the poem brings everything together. Dickinson writes, "Remembered, if forgot / For recollecting thee / Obliterated times / Renewed the mystery." Here, the speaker is acknowledging the fact that memories can fade over time, but even if they are forgotten, the love and connection that existed between the speaker and the person who has died will still be there. The "obliterated times" that the speaker refers to are the moments that have been lost to memory, but even these can be renewed through the power of love and memory.
Overall, "I see thee clearer for the Grave" is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores the themes of love, memory, and death in a unique and powerful way. Dickinson's use of language and imagery is masterful, and the poem is a testament to her ability to capture the essence of the human experience in just a few lines of verse. Whether you are a fan of poetry or not, this is a poem that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
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