'We play at Paste' by Emily Dickinson
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We play at Paste-
Till qualified, for Pearl-
Then, drop the Paste-
And deem ourself a fool-The Shapes-though-were similar-
And our new Hands
Learned Gem-Tactics-
Practicing Sands-
Editor 1 Interpretation
Emily Dickinson's We Play at Paste: A Study in Metaphor and Playfulness
When it comes to Emily Dickinson's poetry, one can never be sure what to expect. Her unique style, marked by unconventional punctuation, capitalization, and syntax, has fascinated readers and critics for generations. One of Dickinson's most playful and intriguing poems is "We play at Paste," a short piece that uses the metaphor of children playing with paste to explore the nature of creativity and art.
The Poem
Before delving into the poem's meaning, let's take a look at the text itself:
We play at paste,
Till qualified for pearl,
Then drop the paste,
And deem ourself a fool.
The shapes, though, were similar,
And our new hands
Learned gem-tactics
Practising sands.
On the surface, the poem appears to be describing a simple game that children might play: making shapes out of paste. However, as with most of Dickinson's work, there is much more going on beneath the surface.
The Metaphor
The first thing to note about "We play at Paste" is that the paste is not just paste—it is a metaphor for something else. The poem's opening line, "We play at paste," immediately signals that we are not dealing with a literal description of children playing with glue. Instead, we are being invited to read this as a metaphor for some other activity.
So what is the paste supposed to represent? There are a few possibilities, but one of the most compelling interpretations is that the paste stands in for the raw materials of art. Just as children use paste to make shapes, artists use paint, clay, words, or other materials to create their works. In this sense, the poem could be seen as a meditation on the creative process.
The Qualification for Pearl
The second line of the poem, "Till qualified for pearl," introduces another layer to the metaphor. The phrase "qualified for pearl" suggests that the shapes made out of paste are not an end in themselves, but rather a means to an end. The ultimate goal is to create something that is as valuable as a pearl.
What does it mean to be "qualified for pearl"? This is where the metaphor gets even more interesting. A pearl is formed when a foreign object, such as a grain of sand, becomes lodged inside an oyster's shell. The oyster responds by secreting layers of nacre around the object, eventually creating a smooth, lustrous pearl.
In light of this, we might read "qualified for pearl" as a reference to the transformative power of art. Just as the oyster turns an irritant into something beautiful and valuable, the artist takes raw materials and transforms them into something that has aesthetic or emotional power. The act of creation is not just about making something pretty or interesting—it is about turning base materials into something that has meaning and significance.
Dropping the Paste
However, the poem's third line, "Then drop the paste," introduces a note of ambiguity. If the goal is to create something as valuable as a pearl, why would one drop the paste once that goal has been achieved? Why not keep refining and perfecting the shapes until they reach their full potential?
One possible reading is that the dropping of the paste represents a moment of disillusionment or self-doubt. The artist has created something that they thought was valuable, but upon reflection, they realize that it is not as significant as they had hoped. The act of dropping the paste could be seen as a form of self-criticism or self-correction.
Deeming Ourself a Fool
The fourth line of the poem, "And deem ourself a fool," reinforces this reading. If the dropping of the paste represents a moment of self-doubt, then the deeming of oneself a fool is a reflection of the artist's disappointment or frustration with their own limitations. They had hoped to create something valuable, but now they feel like they have failed.
This is a familiar theme in Dickinson's poetry. She often writes about the difficulty of creating something that truly captures the essence of the self or the world. In "We play at Paste," we see this theme expressed through the metaphor of the paste and the pearl. The artist strives for perfection, but ultimately realizes that they are limited by their own abilities and the materials at their disposal.
Similar Shapes
The fifth line of the poem, "The shapes, though, were similar," introduces another twist to the metaphor. If the goal of the game is to create something valuable, and the dropping of the paste represents a moment of self-doubt, then why are the shapes still similar? What does this suggest about the nature of creativity and art?
One possible reading is that the shapes are similar because they are all made from the same raw materials. The artist can manipulate the paste in different ways, but ultimately they are limited by what the paste can do. This is true of all art forms—the artist can use different techniques and approaches, but ultimately they are working with the same basic materials of color, form, language, or sound.
Gem-Tactics
The sixth line of the poem, "And our new hands/Learned gem-tactics/Practising sands," reinforces this reading. The phrase "gem-tactics" suggests that the artist is learning how to manipulate the raw materials of art in more effective and sophisticated ways. However, the phrase "practising sands" reminds us that the artist is still working with the same basic materials, just as the children are still working with paste.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "We play at Paste" is a rich and complex poem that uses the metaphor of children playing with paste to explore the nature of creativity and art. Through the metaphor of the paste and the pearl, Dickinson invites us to consider the transformative power of art, as well as the limitations that artists face in their attempts to create something truly valuable. By the end of the poem, we are left with a sense of both the joy and the frustration of the creative process, as well as a renewed appreciation for the art that surrounds us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a beautiful art form that has been used to express human emotions and experiences for centuries. One of the most celebrated poets of all time is Emily Dickinson, who wrote over 1,800 poems during her lifetime. Her work is known for its unique style, use of language, and exploration of themes such as death, nature, and spirituality. One of her most famous poems is "We play at Paste," which is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece that explores the nature of life and death.
"We play at Paste" is a short poem that consists of only two stanzas. The first stanza reads:
We play at paste, Till qualified for pearl, Then drop the paste, And deem ourself a fool.
The second stanza reads:
The shapes, though, were similar, And our new hands Learned gem-tactics Practicing sands.
At first glance, the poem may seem simple and straightforward. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that there is a deeper meaning behind the words. The poem is a metaphor for life and death, and it explores the idea that life is like a game that we play until we are ready to move on to the next stage.
The first stanza of the poem describes how we play at paste, which is a reference to the process of making pearls. In order to create a pearl, a small piece of grit or sand is inserted into an oyster. The oyster then covers the grit with layers of a substance called nacre, which eventually forms a pearl. In the poem, the paste represents the grit or sand, and the pearl represents the final product. The idea is that we start out as something small and insignificant, but through time and effort, we can become something beautiful and valuable.
However, the poem also suggests that there is a limit to how far we can go. Once we have become qualified for pearl, we drop the paste and deem ourselves a fool. This suggests that there is a point at which we must let go of our earthly desires and ambitions and move on to the next stage of our existence. This is a powerful message that reminds us that life is fleeting and that we must make the most of the time we have.
The second stanza of the poem builds on this idea by describing how the shapes of the paste and the pearl are similar. This suggests that there is a continuity between life and death, and that the two are not as separate as we might think. The new hands that learn gem-tactics represent the next stage of our existence, and the practicing sands represent the process of learning and growing that we must go through in order to reach that stage.
Overall, "We play at Paste" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the nature of life and death. It reminds us that life is a game that we must play to the best of our abilities, but that there is a limit to how far we can go. It also suggests that there is a continuity between life and death, and that the two are not as separate as we might think. Emily Dickinson was a master of language and metaphor, and this poem is a testament to her skill and insight.
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