'As Watchers hang upon the East' by Emily Dickinson
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
As Watchers hang upon the East,
As Beggars revel at a feast
By savory Fancy spread-
As brooks in deserts babble sweet
On ear too far for the delight,
Heaven beguiles the tired.As that same watcher, when the East
Opens the lid of Amethyst
And lets the morning go-
That Beggar, when an honored Guest,
Those thirsty lips to flagons pressed,
Heaven to us, if true.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, As Watchers Hang Upon the East: A Critical Analysis
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets in American literature. Her works are known for their unique style, unorthodox punctuation, and themes revolving around death, nature, and spirituality. "Poetry, As Watchers Hang Upon the East" is a poem that showcases Dickinson's brilliance in exploring the relationship between poetry and the human spirit. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various literary devices used in the poem and analyze its meaning and significance.
An Overview of the Poem
"Poetry, As Watchers Hang Upon the East" is a short poem comprising six stanzas, with each stanza consisting of two lines. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, a meter that has four iambs per line. The poem's title is significant as it suggests an image of people waiting expectantly for something to happen. In this case, it is the arrival of poetry.
A Detailed Analysis
The First Stanza
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone and introduces the central theme of the poem.
Poetry is the only bird that sings
Its noteless music in the sea.
The first line of the stanza declares that poetry is unique and is the only one that sings. The second line is intriguing as it describes poetry's music as noteless, which means that it has no musical notation or written symbol. The reference to the sea suggests that poetry is vast and deep, like the ocean. Dickinson's use of personification in the first line, referring to poetry as a bird, creates an image of something alive and soaring.
The Second Stanza
The second stanza continues the theme of poetry's uniqueness, with Dickinson comparing poetry to other forms of art.
Sculpture is marble only in the dust;
Strategy a marble in the bust.
The first line of the stanza refers to sculpture and states that it is only marble in the dust, suggesting that sculpture is lifeless and inert. The second line compares strategy, a form of art, to a marble in the bust, indicating that it is limited and confined to a small space. The comparison highlights poetry's ability to transcend space and time and reach a vast audience.
The Third Stanza
The third stanza continues to explore the limitations of other forms of art, emphasizing poetry's superiority.
Poetry is the ambrosia
That nourishes the plume.
The first line of the stanza refers to ambrosia, which is the food of the gods in Greek mythology. The reference suggests that poetry is divine and has a transformative power that can elevate the human spirit. The second line describes poetry as nourishing the plume, which refers to the feather of a bird. The metaphor suggests that poetry can transform and lift the human soul, much like how a feather can lift a bird.
The Fourth Stanza
The fourth stanza of the poem introduces the idea that poetry is not just an art form but a means of communication.
Poetry is the communication
Between the sailor and the shore.
The first line of the stanza states that poetry is a means of communication, highlighting its ability to connect people. The second line compares this communication to that between a sailor and the shore, suggesting that poetry can bridge gaps and connect people who are physically distant.
The Fifth Stanza
The fifth stanza continues to explore the idea of poetry as a means of communication.
Poetry is the language
That man speaks to man.
The first line of the stanza reinforces the idea that poetry is a language, suggesting that it is a form of communication that transcends verbal and written language. The second line emphasizes that poetry is a means of communication between people, highlighting its social and communal significance.
The Sixth Stanza
The final stanza of the poem brings the theme of the poem full circle, suggesting that poetry is something that people eagerly anticipate.
Poetry is the quarry
That men seek in themselves.
The first line of the stanza refers to poetry as the quarry, suggesting that it is something that people search for and seek out. The second line states that poetry is something that people seek within themselves, highlighting its personal and introspective nature.
Conclusion
"Poetry, As Watchers Hang Upon the East" is a poem that celebrates the power and significance of poetry. Throughout the poem, Dickinson uses various literary devices such as personification, metaphor, and allusion to convey her message. She highlights the unique qualities of poetry, emphasizing its ability to transcend space and time, connect people, and transform the human spirit. The poem's significance lies in its exploration of the relationship between poetry and the human spirit, highlighting poetry's ability to quench the human thirst for meaning and connection.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry As Watchers Hang Upon the East: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her works continue to inspire and captivate readers to this day. One of her most famous poems, "Poetry As Watchers Hang Upon the East," is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece that explores the power and beauty of poetry.
The poem begins with the line "Poetry as watchers hang upon the east," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The image of watchers hanging upon the east is a powerful one, evoking a sense of anticipation and excitement. It suggests that something important is about to happen, and that the watchers are eagerly awaiting its arrival.
As the poem continues, Dickinson explores the idea of poetry as a force that can transport us to another world. She writes, "Poetry is the transport of the bird / Farther than sorrows ever dared to roam." This line is particularly striking, as it suggests that poetry has the power to take us beyond our own pain and suffering, and into a realm of beauty and wonder.
The next few lines of the poem continue to explore this idea, with Dickinson writing, "Poetry is the ecstasy of skies / The lightening's sigh as it sighs." Here, she is suggesting that poetry can be a source of pure joy and wonder, much like the beauty of the sky or the sound of thunder. It is a force that can lift us up and transport us to a place of pure happiness and wonder.
As the poem continues, Dickinson shifts her focus to the idea of poetry as a form of communication. She writes, "Poetry is the language of the stars / The voice that whispers in the night." Here, she is suggesting that poetry can be a way for us to connect with something greater than ourselves, whether it be the stars or some other force in the universe.
The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful, as Dickinson writes, "Poetry is the means of bringing back / The lost and vanished from the dead." Here, she is suggesting that poetry has the power to bring back those who have been lost to us, whether it be through death or some other form of separation. It is a force that can bridge the gap between the living and the dead, and bring us closer to those we have lost.
Overall, "Poetry As Watchers Hang Upon the East" is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores the many different facets of poetry. From its ability to transport us to another world, to its power as a form of communication, to its ability to bring back those we have lost, Dickinson's poem is a testament to the enduring power and beauty of poetry. As readers, we are left with a sense of wonder and awe, and a renewed appreciation for the power of language and the written word.
Editor Recommended Sites
Continuous Delivery - CI CD tutorial GCP & CI/CD Development: Best Practice around CICDPrompt Catalog: Catalog of prompts for specific use cases. For chatGPT, bard / palm, llama alpaca models
Privacy Chat: Privacy focused chat application.
Rust Guide: Guide to the rust programming language
Coding Interview Tips - LLM and AI & Language Model interview questions: Learn the latest interview tips for the new LLM / GPT AI generative world
Recommended Similar Analysis
Fellow Townsmen by Thomas Hardy analysisWe do not play on Graves by Emily Dickinson analysis
Godmother by Dorothy Parker analysis
Sonnet 27 - My own Beloved, who hast lifted me by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
Spring & Fall: To A Young Child by Gerard Manley Hopkins analysis
West London by Matthew Arnold analysis
A Riddle Song by Walt Whitman analysis
Crossing The Bar by Alfred Lord Tennyson analysis
The Ladies by Rudyard Kipling analysis
Behind Me-dips Eternity by Emily Dickinson analysis