'Frequently the wood are pink' by Emily Dickinson


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The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson6Frequently the wood are pink-
Frequently are brown.
Frequently the hills undress
Behind my native town.
Oft a head is crested
I was wont to see-
And as oft a cranny
Where it used to be-
And the Earth- they tell me-
On its Axis turned!
Wonderful Rotation!
By but

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Frequently the wood are pink by Emily Dickinson

Oh my goodness, where do I even begin with this poem? Emily Dickinson really outdid herself with "Poetry, Frequently the wood are pink." This piece is packed with so much meaning and symbolism, it's almost overwhelming. But let's take a deep breath and dive in.

First of all, let's talk about the title. "Poetry, Frequently the wood are pink." Right away, we see that Dickinson is using her signature style of capitalizing seemingly random words. But these capitalizations are not random at all - they hold significance. "Poetry" is obviously the subject of the poem, and its capitalization emphasizes its importance. "Frequently" is also capitalized, which suggests that this is not always the case - that there are times when the wood are not pink. And finally, "wood" is capitalized for a reason that will become clear later on.

The first stanza sets the scene for the poem:

Poetry, frequently, the wood are pink,
The hue of April, swallows twilight;
The buds, unhooking from their velvet burrows,
Dust the frail crocus, whence the orchis springs.

Right away, we see that Dickinson is using nature imagery to describe poetry. The wood is pink, which is the color of April - a time of rebirth and renewal. This sets the tone for the poem, suggesting that poetry is a force of nature that brings new life to the world. The mention of swallows and twilight also adds to the natural imagery, as does the description of buds unhooking from their velvet burrows. These lines bring to mind a sense of growth and change, and we can almost see the flowers and plants bursting forth from the ground.

The second stanza is where things get really interesting:

Life, scarce the texture of a worm,
A ground or two beneath the diligent hoof,
Eyes a quadrillion, and the solemn stealing,
Nigh of an atom, in a sea of whiteness.

Okay, so what's going on here? At first glance, these lines seem disjointed and random. But let's break it down. "Life, scarce the texture of a worm" suggests that life is small and insignificant, like a worm. This is a stark contrast to the grandeur of nature that we saw in the first stanza. The mention of a "ground or two beneath the diligent hoof" suggests that life is grounded and practical, and that there is work to be done. The phrase "eyes a quadrillion" is interesting - it suggests that there are many different perspectives and ways of looking at the world. And finally, the mention of "the solemn stealing, nigh of an atom, in a sea of whiteness" is a metaphor for the way that poetry can capture small moments of beauty and significance in the world.

The third stanza continues with the use of nature imagery to describe poetry:

See you on the moors for a rabbit's foot,
See you where the Jacinth hangs,
Where the brook runs soft and fleet,
Where the machete at noon-day sings.

The mention of the rabbit's foot suggests that poetry is lucky or magical - something that we might seek out for good fortune. The Jacinth is a flower that is often associated with love and passion, which adds a romantic element to the poem. The brook running soft and fleet is another example of the natural imagery that Dickinson uses throughout. And finally, the mention of the machete at noon-day singing is an interesting one. Machetes are often associated with violence and conflict, but here they are singing - suggesting that even the most violent or ugly things in the world can be beautiful in their own way.

The fourth stanza is where things get really exciting:

Who shall doubt this was once young?
This was once fairy in the grass?
By the same hand, immortal, grown,
That carried squirrel, whistling, in the fence —

Here, Dickinson is asking a rhetorical question - "who shall doubt this was once young?" - which suggests that poetry is timeless and eternal. The mention of fairies in the grass adds to the magical, otherworldly quality of the poem. And finally, the mention of the squirrel being carried in the fence is another example of the way that poetry can capture small moments of beauty and significance in the world.

The final stanza brings the poem full circle:

Who shall deny the robin and the rain?
Still fashioning from the changing boughs
Her nest, the season meant but meant in vain,
Him we ignore, and so, below,

We chant the wayward witness,
Rarely stooping to remark
On our own feet, and almost then,
The meadows, in the moon.

Here, Dickinson is emphasizing the importance of paying attention to the world around us. The robin and the rain are both natural elements that we might take for granted, but Dickinson is reminding us to appreciate them. The mention of "fashioning from the changing boughs / her nest" is another example of the natural imagery that runs throughout the poem. And finally, the mention of the meadows in the moon is a beautiful image that suggests that even in darkness, there is beauty to be found.

In conclusion, "Poetry, Frequently the wood are pink" is a beautiful and complex poem that uses nature imagery to explore the power and significance of poetry. Dickinson's use of metaphor and symbolism is masterful, and every line of the poem is packed with meaning. This is a poem that rewards careful reading and reflection, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Frequently the wood are pink: A deep dive into Emily Dickinson's classic poem

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, known for her unique style and thought-provoking themes. One of her most famous poems, "Frequently the wood are pink," is a perfect example of her ability to capture the beauty and complexity of nature in just a few lines. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the meaning behind this classic poem and why it continues to resonate with readers today.

First, let's take a look at the poem itself:

Frequently the wood are pink, Frequently are brown; Frequently the hills undress Behind my native town.

Oft a head is crested I was wont to see, And as oft a cranny Where it used to be.

And the earth, they tell me, On its axis turned,-- Wonderful rotation By but twelve performed!

As we can see, the poem is short and simple, with just four stanzas and a total of 16 lines. However, within those lines, Dickinson manages to convey a sense of wonder and awe at the natural world, as well as a hint of melancholy and nostalgia.

The first two lines set the scene, describing how the woods can sometimes appear pink and sometimes brown. This could be a reference to the changing of the seasons, with the pink representing spring and the brown representing autumn. However, it could also be interpreted more metaphorically, with the pink representing youth and vitality and the brown representing aging and decay.

The next two lines introduce the idea of the hills undressing behind the speaker's native town. This could be a reference to the changing of the seasons once again, with the hills losing their foliage as winter approaches. However, it could also be interpreted as a metaphor for the passing of time and the loss of innocence and beauty.

The third stanza introduces a more personal element, with the speaker reminiscing about a head that used to be crested and a cranny where it used to be. This could be a reference to a specific person or object that the speaker misses, or it could be a more general reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of change.

Finally, the fourth stanza brings us back to the natural world, with the speaker marveling at the earth's rotation and the fact that it only takes twelve hours for it to complete a full turn. This could be seen as a reminder of the vastness and complexity of the universe, and how small and insignificant we are in comparison.

Overall, "Frequently the wood are pink" is a poem that invites multiple interpretations and encourages readers to reflect on their own relationship with nature and the passage of time. It is a testament to Dickinson's skill as a poet that she is able to convey so much meaning and emotion in such a short space.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of color imagery. The pink and brown of the woods, for example, are colors that are often associated with nature and the changing of the seasons. Pink is a color that is often associated with youth and vitality, while brown is a color that is often associated with aging and decay. By using these colors, Dickinson is able to convey a sense of the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of change.

Similarly, the idea of the hills undressing behind the speaker's native town is a powerful image that evokes a sense of loss and nostalgia. The hills, which were once lush and green, are now bare and exposed, a reminder of the passage of time and the impermanence of all things.

The third stanza, with its reference to a crested head and a missing cranny, is perhaps the most enigmatic part of the poem. It is unclear who or what the speaker is referring to, but the sense of loss and longing is palpable. This stanza could be interpreted as a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of loss, or it could be a more personal reflection on a specific loss that the speaker has experienced.

Finally, the fourth stanza brings us back to the natural world, with its reference to the earth's rotation. This stanza is a reminder of the vastness and complexity of the universe, and how small and insignificant we are in comparison. It is also a reminder of the cyclical nature of time, with the earth completing a full rotation every twelve hours.

In conclusion, "Frequently the wood are pink" is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its use of color imagery, powerful metaphors, and enigmatic language make it a poem that invites multiple interpretations and encourages readers to reflect on their own relationship with nature and the passage of time. Emily Dickinson's skill as a poet is on full display here, as she is able to convey so much meaning and emotion in just a few lines. It is a testament to her enduring legacy as one of the greatest poets of all time.

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