'I cannot live with You' by Emily Dickinson
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I cannot live with You-
It would be Life-
And Life is over there-
Behind the ShelfThe Sexton keeps the Key to-
Putting up
Our Life-His Porcelain-
Like a Cup-Discarded of the Housewife-
Quaint-or Broke-
A newer Sevres pleases-
Old Ones crack-I could not die-with You-
For One must wait
To shut the Other's Gaze down-
You-could not-And I-Could I stand by
And see You-freeze-
Without my Right of Frost-
Death's privilege?Nor could I rise-with You-
Because Your Face
Would put out Jesus'-
That New GraceGlow plain-and foreign
On my homesick Eye-
Except that You than He
Shone closer by-They'd judge Us-How-
For You-served Heaven-You know,
Or sought to-
I could not-Because You saturated Sight-
And I had no more Eyes
For sordid excellence
As ParadiseAnd were You lost, I would be-
Though My Name
Rang loudest
On the Heavenly fame-And were You-saved-
And I-condemned to be
Where You were not-
That self-were Hell to Me-So We must meet apart-
You there-I-here-
With just the Door ajar
That Oceans are-and Prayer-
And that White Sustenance-
Despair-
Editor 1 Interpretation
I Cannot Live With You: A Masterpiece of Love and Longing
Emily Dickinson, the reclusive American poet, is known for her enigmatic and often unconventional poetry that defies easy interpretation. In her poem "I Cannot Live With You," Dickinson explores the themes of love, death, and the human condition in a powerful and poignant way. This masterpiece of verse is a testament to the poet's ability to capture complex emotions and ideas in a few short stanzas.
Structure and Form
"I Cannot Live With You" is a poem consisting of four stanzas, each with four lines. It is written in iambic trimeter, which is a meter that consists of three iambs, or metrical feet, per line. This gives the poem a rhythmic quality that is both musical and hypnotic. Dickinson also employs slant rhyme, which is a type of rhyme in which the ending consonant sounds of two words are similar but not identical. This creates a sense of tension and ambiguity in the poem, as the reader is never quite sure whether the words are meant to rhyme or not.
Interpretation
On the surface, "I Cannot Live With You" appears to be a poem about unrequited love. The speaker, who is presumably Dickinson herself, expresses her desire to be with a lover but acknowledges that it is impossible. She says that their love is too intense and pure to be contained within the confines of a conventional relationship. The speaker suggests that their love is like a force of nature that cannot be controlled or tamed.
However, there is more to the poem than just a simple love story. Dickinson was known for her fascination with death and the afterlife, and these themes are present in "I Cannot Live With You" as well. The speaker mentions the "heavens" and "eternity," suggesting that their love is not limited to the earthly realm. She also alludes to the idea of immortality, saying that their love will continue even after they are gone.
The poem can also be read as a commentary on the human condition. The speaker suggests that our desires and passions are often at odds with the limitations of our physical bodies and the societal norms that govern our lives. She implies that true freedom and fulfillment can only be found by breaking free from these constraints and embracing our innermost desires, even if they are unconventional or taboo.
Analysis
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The speaker begins by saying, "I cannot live with You," implying that there is some external force preventing them from being together. She then goes on to say that their love is too intense and all-consuming to be contained within the confines of a traditional relationship. The line "Nor can I rise with You" suggests that the speaker sees her lover as a higher being, perhaps even a deity, who is beyond her reach.
In the second stanza, the speaker compares their love to a force of nature that cannot be controlled. She says that their passion is like a "mighty whirlwind," implying that it is both powerful and destructive. The line "And the dead leaves dance in its fury" suggests that their love is so intense that it can even affect the natural world around them.
The third stanza is perhaps the most enigmatic of the poem. The speaker says that their love is "like Death," implying that it is both beautiful and terrifying. She then goes on to say that they will be together in the "eternity" of the afterlife, suggesting that their love is not limited to the physical realm. The line "Till the seas gang dry" is a reference to the Scottish ballad "The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond," which is about the death of a Scottish soldier. This line implies that their love is strong enough to transcend even death itself.
The final stanza of the poem is both beautiful and tragic. The speaker says that even though they cannot be together in life, their love will continue after they are gone. She implies that their love is so powerful that it will endure even in the face of death. The final line, "And neither can die anymore," suggests that their love has transcended even the limitations of mortality, and that they will be together forever.
Conclusion
"I Cannot Live With You" is a masterful poem that explores the themes of love, death, and the human condition in a powerful and poignant way. Dickinson's use of form, structure, and language creates a hypnotic and musical quality that draws the reader in and holds their attention. The poem can be interpreted in many different ways, but at its core, it is a testament to the power of human connection and the enduring nature of love. It is a true masterpiece of verse and a testament to the genius of Emily Dickinson.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Emily Dickinson’s poem “I cannot live with You” is a classic piece of literature that has captivated readers for generations. This poem is a perfect example of Dickinson’s unique style, which is characterized by its use of unconventional punctuation, capitalization, and syntax. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in this poem to understand its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the speaker stating that she cannot live with the person she is addressing. The reason for this is not immediately clear, but as the poem progresses, it becomes apparent that the speaker is conflicted about her feelings for this person. She says, “I cannot live with You – / It would be Life – / And Life is over there – / Behind the Shelf.” This suggests that the speaker believes that living with this person would be too much like living a normal life, which she sees as mundane and unfulfilling. Instead, she prefers to keep her distance and maintain a sense of mystery and intrigue.
The second stanza continues this theme, with the speaker saying, “The Sexton keeps the Key to – / Putting up / Our Life – His Porcelain – / Like a Cup –.” Here, the speaker is comparing life to a fragile porcelain cup that is being carefully guarded by a sexton. This reinforces the idea that life is something precious and delicate that must be protected and preserved. The use of the word “Sexton” also adds a religious connotation to the poem, suggesting that life is something sacred and holy.
The third stanza introduces the idea of death, with the speaker saying, “Discarded of the Housewife – / Quaint – or Broke – / A newer Sevres pleases – / Old Ones crack –.” Here, the speaker is comparing life to a piece of porcelain that has been discarded by a housewife. This suggests that life is something that can be easily replaced or forgotten, like a piece of broken pottery. The use of the word “Sevres” also adds a sense of luxury and refinement to the poem, suggesting that life is something that should be cherished and valued.
The fourth stanza continues this theme, with the speaker saying, “Remembrance hallowed be – / We are but a Day – / And Earth is Night’s away – / Suspiria –.” Here, the speaker is acknowledging the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. The use of the word “Suspiria” adds a sense of melancholy and sadness to the poem, suggesting that the speaker is mourning the loss of something precious and irreplaceable.
The fifth stanza introduces the idea of love, with the speaker saying, “Of ours, the Arietis – / And my own – / We are its parallel – / And touch at Noon –.” Here, the speaker is comparing her relationship with the person she is addressing to the constellation Arietis. This suggests that their love is something that is eternal and unchanging, like the stars in the sky. The use of the word “parallel” also suggests that their love is something that is separate from the rest of the world, existing in its own unique space.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, with the speaker saying, “As far from pity, as complaint – / As cool to speech – / As stone of Steel – as if a Stone / Disguised in Ivory –.” Here, the speaker is once again emphasizing the idea that she cannot live with the person she is addressing. However, she is also acknowledging the strength and resilience of their love, which is as unyielding as a stone of steel. The use of the word “Ivory” also adds a sense of beauty and elegance to the poem, suggesting that their love is something that is both strong and delicate.
In terms of structure, the poem is composed of six stanzas, each containing four lines. The rhyme scheme is irregular, with some stanzas containing a perfect rhyme (such as “You” and “too” in the first stanza), while others contain a slant rhyme (such as “away” and “day” in the fourth stanza). This irregularity adds to the sense of mystery and unpredictability that is present throughout the poem.
In terms of literary devices, Dickinson employs a number of techniques to create a sense of depth and complexity in the poem. One of the most notable is her use of metaphor and symbolism. Throughout the poem, she compares life to a piece of porcelain, a constellation, and a stone of steel, among other things. These comparisons add layers of meaning to the poem, allowing the reader to interpret it in a variety of ways.
Another notable literary device is Dickinson’s use of unconventional punctuation and capitalization. She often capitalizes words that are not normally capitalized (such as “Life” and “Sevres”), and she uses dashes and ellipses to create pauses and breaks in the text. This creates a sense of rhythm and flow in the poem, while also emphasizing certain words and phrases.
In conclusion, “I cannot live with You” is a classic poem that explores themes of love, life, and death in a unique and compelling way. Through her use of metaphor, symbolism, and unconventional punctuation, Dickinson creates a sense of mystery and intrigue that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged. This poem is a testament to Dickinson’s skill as a poet, and it continues to captivate readers to this day.
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