'Just lost, when I was saved!' by Emily Dickinson


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Just lost, when I was saved!
Just felt the world go by!
Just girt me for the onset with Eternity,
When breath blew back,
And on the other side
I heard recede the disappointed tide!Therefore, as One returned, I feel
Odd secrets of the line to tell!
Some Sailor, skirting foreign shores-
Some pale Reporter, from the awful doors
Before the Seal!Next time, to stay!
Next time, the things to see
By Ear unheard,
Unscrutinized by Eye-Next time, to tarry,
While the Ages steal-
Slow tramp the Centuries,
And the Cycles wheel!

Editor 1 Interpretation

Just lost, when I was saved!

Emily Dickinson's poem, "Just lost, when I was saved!" is a powerful piece of poetry that speaks to the human experience of loss and salvation. In this 12-line poem, Dickinson explores the paradoxical nature of these two experiences, suggesting that sometimes we must lose something before we can be saved.

At first glance, the poem seems to be a straightforward narrative of a shipwreck. The speaker tells us that they were on a "perilous" voyage that ended in disaster, with the ship "lost" at sea. But just as all hope seems lost, the speaker experiences a moment of salvation, as they are rescued by a "hand" that guides them to safety.

But as with much of Dickinson's poetry, there is much more going on beneath the surface. The shipwreck and rescue can be read as a metaphor for the human experience of loss and redemption. The speaker may be referring not just to a physical shipwreck, but to an emotional or spiritual crisis that they have faced.

The use of the word "perilous" suggests that whatever crisis the speaker has faced was not just a minor difficulty, but a truly life-threatening situation. And the fact that the ship is "lost" suggests that the speaker may have felt completely adrift and without direction.

But despite this sense of hopelessness, the speaker experiences a moment of salvation. The hand that guides them to safety may be read as a symbol of divine intervention, or of the support and love of friends or family. Whatever the source of this salvation, it is clear that the speaker feels a sense of relief and gratitude at being rescued from their peril.

One of the most striking elements of this poem is its brevity. In just 12 lines, Dickinson manages to convey a complex and nuanced experience of loss and redemption. The poem is structured as a single sentence, with each line building on the previous one to create a sense of momentum and urgency.

The use of enjambment, or the continuation of a sentence from one line to the next, adds to this feeling of momentum. For example, the phrase "perilous to be" spills over onto the next line, creating a sense of tension and uncertainty.

Another notable feature of the poem is its use of punctuation. Dickinson is known for her idiosyncratic use of dashes, and "Just lost, when I was saved!" is no exception. The dashes create pauses and breaks in the poem, giving the reader time to consider the meaning of each line and the connections between them.

The final two lines of the poem are particularly striking. The repetition of the word "saved" creates a sense of emphasis, as if the speaker is trying to emphasize the magnitude of their salvation. And the use of the word "just" suggests that this salvation was not the end of the story, but rather a beginning.

Overall, "Just lost, when I was saved!" is a powerful and enigmatic poem that speaks to the human experience of loss and redemption. Through its use of metaphor, structure, and punctuation, Dickinson invites the reader to consider the paradoxical nature of these experiences, and to reflect on the role that faith, community, and love can play in our lives.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Emily Dickinson's "Just lost, when I was saved!" - A Poetic Masterpiece

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her works continue to inspire and move readers to this day. One of her most famous poems is "Just lost, when I was saved!", a powerful and thought-provoking piece that explores the themes of loss, salvation, and redemption. In this article, we will take a closer look at this classic poem and analyze its meaning and significance.

The Poem

Just lost, when I was saved! Just felt the world go by! Just girt me for the onset with eternity, When breath blew back, And on the other side I heard recede the disappointed tide!

Therefore, as one returned, I feel, Odd secrets of the line to tell! Some sailor, skirting foreign shores, Some pale reporter from the awful doors Before the seal!

Next time, to stay! Next time, the things to see By ear unheard, Unscrutinized by eye.

Analysis

The poem begins with a paradoxical statement: "Just lost, when I was saved!" This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests that the speaker has experienced a profound transformation that is difficult to understand or explain. The next line, "Just felt the world go by!", reinforces this sense of disorientation and suggests that the speaker has been caught up in a powerful and overwhelming experience.

The third line, "Just girt me for the onset with eternity", is a bit more difficult to interpret. The word "girt" means to surround or encircle, so it seems that the speaker is preparing herself for some kind of ultimate or final experience. The phrase "onset with eternity" suggests that this experience is related to the afterlife or some kind of spiritual realm.

The next line, "When breath blew back", is a turning point in the poem. It suggests that the speaker has been brought back from the brink of death or some other kind of profound experience. The phrase "And on the other side" reinforces this sense of transition, as it suggests that the speaker has crossed over from one state of being to another.

The final two lines of the first stanza, "I heard recede the disappointed tide!", are particularly powerful. The word "disappointed" suggests that the speaker has been let down or disappointed by something, but it is not clear what that something is. The word "tide" suggests that this disappointment is related to the ebb and flow of life, and that the speaker has been caught up in a larger, cosmic struggle.

The second stanza begins with the phrase "Therefore, as one returned, I feel". This suggests that the speaker is reflecting on her experience and trying to make sense of it. The phrase "Odd secrets of the line to tell!" suggests that the speaker has gained some kind of insight or knowledge that is difficult to put into words.

The next few lines are particularly interesting, as they suggest that the speaker is imagining herself as a sailor or a reporter who has just returned from a distant land. The phrase "Some sailor, skirting foreign shores" suggests that the speaker has traveled to a place that is unfamiliar and exotic. The phrase "Some pale reporter from the awful doors" suggests that the speaker has witnessed something terrible or awe-inspiring.

The final two lines of the poem, "Next time, to stay! / Next time, the things to see", suggest that the speaker is looking forward to another experience like the one she has just had. The phrase "By ear unheard, / Unscrutinized by eye" suggests that this experience will be beyond words or description, and that the speaker will have to rely on her intuition or spiritual senses to understand it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Just lost, when I was saved!" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of loss, salvation, and redemption. Through its use of paradoxical statements, vivid imagery, and powerful metaphors, the poem invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of transformation and to consider the mysteries of life and death. Emily Dickinson was a master of poetic language, and this poem is a testament to her skill and artistry.

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