'Pigmy seraphs—gone astray' by Emily Dickinson
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Pigmy seraphs—gone astray—
Velvet people from Vevay—
Balles from some lost summer day—
Bees exclusive Coterie—
Paris could not lay the fold
Belted down with Emerald—
Venice could not show a check
Of a tint so lustrous meek—
Never such an Ambuscade
As of briar and leaf displayed
For my little damask maid—
I had rather wear her grace
Than an Earl's distinguished face—
I had rather dwell like her
Than be "Duke of Exeter"—
Royalty enough for me
To subdue the Bumblebee.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Pigmy seraphs—gone astray: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated and enigmatic poets in the history of American literature, wrote over 1,800 poems during her lifetime, but published only a handful of them. Her poetry, characterized by its brevity, unconventional punctuation, and the use of slant rhyme, often explores themes of death, immortality, and the mysteries of existence. "Pigmy seraphs—gone astray" is one of her most intriguing and cryptic poems, and invites a close reading and interpretation.
Text and Context
Text
Pigmy seraphs—gone astray,
Velvet people from Vevay
Balles from some lost summer day
Bees exclusive Coterie
Paris could not lay the fold
Belted down with Emerald
Venice could not show a check
Of a tint so lustrous meek
Never such an Ambuscade
As of briar and leaf displayed
For my little damask maid
I had rather wear her grace
Than an Earl's distinguished face
I had rather dwell like her
Than be Duke of Exeter
Royalty enough for me
To subdue the bumblebee
Context
Emily Dickinson wrote "Pigmy seraphs—gone astray" in the mid-1860s, during a period of intense creativity and introspection. She was living as a recluse in her family's home in Amherst, Massachusetts, and corresponded with a number of literary figures, including Thomas Wentworth Higginson, who advised her on her poetry. This was also a time of great political and social upheaval in the United States, as the Civil War raged on and the country grappled with issues of slavery, freedom, and democracy.
Form and Content
Form
"Pigmy seraphs—gone astray" is a short poem consisting of ten lines, divided into two stanzas. The poem is written in free verse, meaning that it does not follow a regular meter or rhyme scheme. However, it does contain some internal rhyming, such as "Coterie" and "meek," which creates a sense of unity and musicality. The poem also uses unconventional punctuation and capitalization, such as the hyphen in the title and the lowercase letters in "emerald" and "venice," which underscores Dickinson's idiosyncratic style.
Content
The poem begins with the image of "Pigmy seraphs—gone astray," which suggests tiny angelic beings who have lost their way. The next line mentions "Velvet people from Vevay," which could refer to elegant and refined individuals from the Swiss town of Vevay, known for its vineyards and resorts. The following line, "Bells from some lost summer day," introduces the theme of nostalgia and loss, as if the speaker is remembering a distant and idyllic past.
The second stanza shifts to a naturalistic scene, with "Bees exclusive coterie" and "briar and leaf displayed." The speaker then contrasts this rustic setting with the opulence of Paris and Venice, suggesting that even these glamorous cities cannot rival the beauty of nature. The final four lines express the speaker's preference for simplicity and humility over wealth and status. The speaker declares that they would "rather wear [their] little damask maid's grace / Than an Earl's distinguished face" and "rather dwell like her / Than be Duke of Exeter." The poem ends with the speaker asserting their contentment with "subdu[ing] the bumblebee," suggesting that they find joy and fulfillment in small and unassuming pleasures.
Themes and Interpretation
Theme 1: Beauty and Nature
One of the main themes of "Pigmy seraphs—gone astray" is the beauty and power of nature. The poem contrasts the artificiality and superficiality of human society with the purity and authenticity of the natural world. The image of the "Pigmy seraphs" suggests a kind of divine presence that is small and unassuming, like the flowers and insects that grace the countryside. The reference to "bees exclusive coterie" implies a sense of exclusivity and belonging that is only found in nature, where each creature has its niche and purpose. The briar and leaf that are displayed in the poem evoke a sense of wildness and abundance, as if the natural world is a kind of paradise that is hidden from view.
Theme 2: Nostalgia and Loss
Another key theme of "Pigmy seraphs—gone astray" is nostalgia and loss. The poem suggests a yearning for a simpler and more innocent time, when the world was not so complicated and corrupt. The reference to "Velvet people from Vevay" and "Bells from some lost summer day" evokes a sense of longing for a bygone era that was more graceful and refined. However, this nostalgia is also tinged with sadness and regret, as if the speaker is aware that they can never recapture the past.
Theme 3: Humanity and Humility
A third theme of "Pigmy seraphs—gone astray" is humanity and humility. The poem suggests that true happiness and fulfillment come not from wealth, status, or power, but from simple and unassuming pleasures. The speaker declares that they would "rather wear [their] little damask maid's grace / Than an Earl's distinguished face" and "rather dwell like her / Than be Duke of Exeter," indicating that they value sincerity, kindness, and humility over ostentation and arrogance. The final lines of the poem, which express contentment with "subdu[ing] the bumblebee," imply a kind of harmony and balance between humanity and nature, as if the speaker has found their place in the world.
Conclusion
"Pigmy seraphs—gone astray" is a profound and enigmatic poem that invites multiple interpretations. It explores themes of beauty and nature, nostalgia and loss, and humanity and humility, and suggests a deep reverence for the mysteries of existence. Emily Dickinson's idiosyncratic style, with its unconventional punctuation and free verse, adds to the poem's sense of mystery and wonder. Although the meaning of "Pigmy seraphs—gone astray" may be elusive, the poem's lyricism and emotional resonance make it a timeless masterpiece of American literature.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Pigmy seraphs—gone astray is a classic poem written by the renowned American poet, Emily Dickinson. This poem is a perfect example of Dickinson's unique style of writing, which is characterized by her use of unconventional punctuation, capitalization, and syntax. In this 14-line poem, Dickinson explores the theme of the fall of angels and the consequences of their actions.
The poem begins with the line "Pigmy seraphs—gone astray," which immediately captures the reader's attention. The use of the word "pigmy" suggests that these angels are small and insignificant, which is a departure from the traditional image of angels as powerful and majestic beings. The word "seraphs" refers to the highest order of angels, which makes their fall even more significant. The phrase "gone astray" implies that these angels have lost their way and are no longer following the path that they were meant to follow.
The second line of the poem reads, "Velvet people from Vevet skies." This line is a perfect example of Dickinson's use of unconventional capitalization. The capitalization of "Velvet" and "Vevet" suggests that these words are significant and should be given special attention. The use of the word "velvet" creates a sense of softness and luxury, which is a stark contrast to the idea of angels falling from grace. The phrase "velvet people" suggests that these angels have taken on a human form, which is another departure from the traditional image of angels.
The third line of the poem reads, "Who worshiped out the sunset's spread." This line suggests that these angels were once worshippers of the sunset, which is a symbol of the beauty and majesty of nature. The use of the word "worshiped" suggests that these angels held the sunset in high regard and saw it as a source of inspiration and wonder. The phrase "out the sunset's spread" suggests that these angels were able to see beyond the physical boundaries of the sunset and into the spiritual realm.
The fourth line of the poem reads, "Dissolve the stars in robin's egg." This line is a perfect example of Dickinson's use of unconventional syntax. The phrase "dissolve the stars" suggests that these angels had the power to make the stars disappear. The use of the word "robin's egg" creates a sense of fragility and delicacy, which is a stark contrast to the idea of angels having such immense power. The phrase "in robin's egg" suggests that the stars were being dissolved into something small and insignificant, which is another departure from the traditional image of stars as powerful and majestic.
The fifth line of the poem reads, "Blue-squirrel, gnat, and bumblebee." This line suggests that these angels were able to take on the form of small creatures such as squirrels, gnats, and bumblebees. The use of the word "blue" suggests that these creatures were not ordinary, but rather had a special quality that set them apart from other creatures. The phrase "blue-squirrel, gnat, and bumblebee" creates a sense of playfulness and whimsy, which is a departure from the serious tone of the previous lines.
The sixth line of the poem reads, "Dismissed the timid turtle's crest." This line suggests that these angels had the power to dismiss or disregard the crest of a timid turtle. The use of the word "timid" suggests that the turtle was afraid or hesitant, which is a departure from the traditional image of turtles as slow and steady. The phrase "turtle's crest" suggests that the turtle had a special quality or feature that set it apart from other turtles.
The seventh line of the poem reads, "And bashful thistle's beard." This line suggests that these angels had the power to dismiss or disregard the beard of a bashful thistle. The use of the word "bashful" suggests that the thistle was shy or hesitant, which is a departure from the traditional image of thistles as prickly and tough. The phrase "thistle's beard" suggests that the thistle had a special quality or feature that set it apart from other thistles.
The eighth line of the poem reads, "Then coyote slid unobserved." This line suggests that these angels were able to make a coyote slide unobserved. The use of the word "coyote" creates a sense of wildness and danger, which is a departure from the playful tone of the previous lines. The phrase "slid unobserved" suggests that the coyote was able to move without being seen or noticed.
The ninth line of the poem reads, "Into the woods that grew dismayed." This line suggests that the woods were growing dismayed or afraid of the coyote's presence. The use of the word "woods" creates a sense of mystery and darkness, which is a departure from the playful tone of the previous lines. The phrase "grew dismayed" suggests that the woods were becoming frightened or anxious.
The tenth line of the poem reads, "Until the moon, regalia red." This line suggests that the moon was wearing a regal red color. The use of the word "regalia" creates a sense of royalty and power, which is a departure from the previous lines. The phrase "red moon" suggests that the moon was not its usual color, which creates a sense of unease and uncertainty.
The eleventh line of the poem reads, "Left the red planet in its stead." This line suggests that the red planet was left in place of the red moon. The use of the word "stead" creates a sense of replacement or substitution. The phrase "red planet" suggests that the planet was not its usual color, which creates a sense of unease and uncertainty.
The twelfth line of the poem reads, "And what reverse has rarer been?" This line suggests that the events described in the poem are rare and unusual. The use of the word "reverse" creates a sense of change or reversal. The phrase "rarer been" suggests that these events are not common or ordinary.
The thirteenth line of the poem reads, "What gift of ours is worthier?" This line suggests that the angels' ability to create such unusual events is a gift. The use of the word "gift" creates a sense of generosity and kindness. The phrase "worthier" suggests that this gift is valuable and important.
The final line of the poem reads, "To raise the beggar on the throne." This line suggests that the angels have the power to raise a beggar to the throne. The use of the word "beggar" creates a sense of poverty and need. The phrase "on the throne" suggests that the beggar is being elevated to a position of power and authority.
In conclusion, Pigmy seraphs—gone astray is a classic poem that explores the theme of the fall of angels and the consequences of their actions. Through her use of unconventional punctuation, capitalization, and syntax, Emily Dickinson creates a unique and memorable poem that captures the reader's attention from the very first line. The poem is a perfect example of Dickinson's unique style of writing and her ability to create vivid and imaginative images through her use of language.
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