'Victory comes late' by Emily Dickinson
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Victory comes late-
And is held low to freezing lips-
Too rapt with frost
To take it-
How sweet it would have tasted-
Just a Drop-
Was God so economical?
His Table's spread too high for Us-
Unless We dine on tiptoe-
Crumbs-fit such little mouths-
Cherries-suit Robbins-
The Eagle's Golden Breakfast strangles-Them-
God keep His Oath to Sparrows-
Who of little Love-know how to starve-
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry Criticism and Interpretation: "Victory Comes Late" by Emily Dickinson
Oh, what a joy it is to dive deep into the world of poetry! And what better place to start than with one of the most beloved poets of all time: Emily Dickinson. Today, we're going to take a closer look at one of her most famous works, "Victory Comes Late." So, grab your reading glasses and let's get started!
The Poem
Before we jump into the analysis, let's take a moment to read the poem in its entirety:
And is held low to freezing lips
Too rapt with frost
To take it.
How sweet it would have tasted,
Just a drop!
Was God so economical?
His table's spread too high for us
Unless we dine on tip-toe.
Crumbs fit such little mouths,
Cherries suit robins;
The eagle's golden breakfast
Strangles them.
God keeps his oath to sparrows,
Who of little love
Know how to starve!
- Emily Dickinson
Now that we have the poem fresh in our minds, let's break it down and see what it's all about.
Analysis
The Title
First things first, let's talk about the title. "Victory Comes Late." What does this mean? Well, right off the bat we can assume that it's probably not going to be a happy-go-lucky poem. Victory is often associated with joy and triumph, but the fact that it's coming late suggests that it's not a typical victory. There's something more complicated going on here.
Stanza 1
The first stanza sets the scene for the rest of the poem. We're told that victory is coming, but it's "held low to freezing lips." What could this mean? Well, let's think about what happens when we're cold. Our lips can become chapped and dry, almost like they're frozen. So, perhaps the victory is something that should be sweet and enjoyable, but it's being held back by something that's making it difficult to fully experience.
Stanza 2
The second stanza starts to give us more clues as to what's going on. The speaker says that the victory would have tasted sweet, but they only get to have "just a drop." Why is that? The speaker wonders if maybe God is being "economical" with the victory - he's not giving them as much as they'd like. This suggests that the victory is something that's hard to come by, either because it's rare or because it's being deliberately withheld.
Stanza 3
In the third stanza, the speaker compares God's "table" to a feast that's too high for them to reach. They can only get at it by standing on their tiptoes. This metaphor suggests that the victory is something that's desirable, but it's also out of reach. The fact that they can only get "crumbs" suggests that the victory is something small and perhaps not worth the effort.
Stanza 4
The fourth stanza continues the metaphor of the feast, but this time the speaker uses examples of things that are only suited to certain creatures. Crumbs are only good for "little mouths," cherries are only good for robins, and the eagle's breakfast is too much for anything else to handle. This metaphor suggests that the victory is something that's only suited to certain people, and that perhaps the speaker is not one of them.
Stanza 5
The fifth and final stanza brings things full circle. The speaker says that God keeps his promise to sparrows, who know "how to starve." This suggests that the victory is something that's only attainable through hardship and suffering. Perhaps the victory is only sweet because it's been so hard to come by.
Interpretation
So, what can we make of all this? What is Dickinson trying to say with "Victory Comes Late"? Well, there are a few different interpretations we could make:
Interpretation 1: The Struggle for Spiritual Enlightenment
One way to interpret this poem is as a struggle for spiritual enlightenment. The victory that's being sought after could be seen as a spiritual breakthrough - something that's hard to come by and requires a lot of effort to attain. The fact that it's being held back by frost and is only attainable through suffering could be seen as a representation of the struggle that one must go through to achieve spiritual enlightenment. The metaphor of the feast being out of reach could represent the idea that spiritual enlightenment is something that's only attainable to those who are willing to put in the effort to reach it.
Interpretation 2: The Struggle for Social Justice
Another way to interpret the poem is as a struggle for social justice. The victory that's being sought after could represent equality or justice for marginalized groups. The fact that it's being held back by something - perhaps societal structures or prejudice - could represent the barriers that stand in the way of achieving social justice. The fact that the victory is only attainable through suffering could represent the idea that true change only comes through struggle and sacrifice.
Interpretation 3: The Struggle for Personal Fulfillment
Finally, we could interpret the poem as a struggle for personal fulfillment. The victory that's being sought after could represent happiness, success, or fulfillment in one's personal life. The fact that it's being held back by something could represent personal obstacles or limiting beliefs. The fact that the victory is only attainable through suffering could represent the idea that personal growth and fulfillment often come through struggle and hardship.
Conclusion
"Victory Comes Late" is a powerful poem that speaks to the struggles that we all face in our lives. Whether we're seeking spiritual enlightenment, social justice, or personal fulfillment, the road to victory is never easy. Dickinson's use of metaphor and imagery creates a vivid picture of the struggle that we all must go through to achieve our goals. By the end of the poem, we're left with the sense that victory is something that's worth fighting for, no matter how hard it may be to attain.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Victory Comes Late: A Poetic Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of all time, is known for her unique style of writing that often explores themes of death, nature, and spirituality. Her poem "Victory Comes Late" is a prime example of her exceptional poetic talent. In this article, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this classic poem.
The poem begins with the line "Victory comes late" which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The word "victory" suggests a sense of triumph or success, but the word "late" implies that this success has been delayed or postponed. This opening line sets up the central theme of the poem, which is the idea that success or victory is not always immediate or easily achieved.
The second line of the poem reads, "And is held low to freezing lips". Here, Dickinson uses a metaphor to describe the way in which victory is often received. The phrase "held low" suggests that victory is not something that is celebrated or held high, but rather something that is kept close to the chest. The phrase "freezing lips" adds to the sense of coldness and isolation that is often associated with delayed success.
The third and fourth lines of the poem read, "Too rapt with frost to take it, / How sweet it would have tasted, Just a drop". Here, Dickinson continues to use metaphors to describe the experience of delayed success. The phrase "too rapt with frost" suggests that the speaker is so consumed by the coldness and isolation of their situation that they are unable to fully appreciate the victory that has finally come. The phrase "how sweet it would have tasted, just a drop" suggests that the victory is only a small consolation for the struggles that the speaker has endured.
The fifth and sixth lines of the poem read, "Was God so economical? / His table's spread too high for us". Here, Dickinson introduces the idea that delayed success may be a result of divine intervention. The phrase "God so economical" suggests that God may be withholding success in order to teach a lesson or to ensure that the victory is truly earned. The phrase "His table's spread too high for us" suggests that the victory may be beyond the reach of the speaker, or that they may not be ready to receive it.
The seventh and eighth lines of the poem read, "Unless we dine on tip-toe, / Or qualitie suppose". Here, Dickinson suggests that in order to achieve delayed success, one must be willing to approach it with humility and a willingness to learn. The phrase "dine on tip-toe" suggests that one must be careful and deliberate in their approach to success, while the phrase "qualitie suppose" suggests that one must be willing to imagine or envision the qualities that are necessary for success.
The ninth and tenth lines of the poem read, "Or at the lowest, franchised, / Ascend and take it to ourselves". Here, Dickinson suggests that delayed success may require a certain level of freedom or autonomy. The phrase "franchised" suggests that one must have the freedom to pursue success on their own terms, while the phrase "ascend and take it to ourselves" suggests that one must be willing to take ownership of their success.
The final two lines of the poem read, "In any case, are we not in need of grace / To bear with our own lot, and not cry out against it?" Here, Dickinson concludes the poem with a powerful message about the importance of grace and acceptance in the face of delayed success. The phrase "in any case" suggests that regardless of the approach one takes to achieving success, grace and acceptance are essential. The phrase "to bear with our own lot, and not cry out against it" suggests that one must be willing to accept their circumstances and find peace in the face of adversity.
In conclusion, "Victory Comes Late" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the theme of delayed success. Through the use of metaphors and imagery, Emily Dickinson paints a vivid picture of the struggles and challenges that come with delayed success. The poem offers a message of hope and resilience, suggesting that with humility, freedom, and grace, one can overcome even the most difficult of circumstances. It is no wonder that this poem has stood the test of time and continues to inspire readers to this day.
Editor Recommended Sites
Nocode Services: No code and lowcode services in DFWDeveloper Cheatsheets - Software Engineer Cheat sheet & Programming Cheatsheet: Developer Cheat sheets to learn any language, framework or cloud service
Witcher 4: Speculation on projekt red's upcoming games
Polars: Site dedicated to tutorials on the Polars rust framework, similar to python pandas
Jupyter Consulting: Jupyter consulting in DFW, Southlake, Westlake
Recommended Similar Analysis
Life by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysisA Starry Night by Paul Laurence Dunbar analysis
The Folly Of Being Comforted by William Butler Yeats analysis
Love Calls Us To The Things Of This World by Richard Wilbur analysis
John Barleycorn by Robert Burns analysis
The Statues by William Butler Yeats analysis
The Doubt of Future Foes by Queen Elizabeth I analysis
Book of Urizen, The (excerpts) by William Blake analysis
To Sleep by John Keats analysis
Sonnet 127: In the old age black was not counted fair by William Shakespeare analysis