'Than Heaven more remote' by Emily Dickinson

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Than Heaven more remote,
For Heaven is the root,
But these the flitted seed.
More flown indeed
Than ones that never were,
Or those that hide, and are.

What madness, by their side,
A vision to provide
Of future days
They cannot praise.

My soul, to find them, come,
They cannot call, they're dumb,
Nor prove, nor woo,
But that they have abode
Is absolute as God,
And instant, too.

Edited by Peter Carter

Editor 1 Interpretation

"Than Heaven more remote": A Deep Dive into Emily Dickinson's Poem

Emily Dickinson remains one of the most enigmatic poets in American literature. Her poems are often cryptic and full of ambiguity, making them a challenge for readers and scholars alike. "Than Heaven more remote" is no exception. This poem, like many of Dickinson's works, is a puzzle waiting to be solved. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will attempt to unravel the mysteries of "Than Heaven more remote".

The Poem

Let's start with the poem itself:

Than Heaven more remote,
For Heaven is the root,
But these the flitted seed.
More flown indeed
Than ones that never were,
For they have been,
But innocently,
And once, at least, have seen.

Breath has not blown
So far away,
But cherub choir
Would catch the lay,
Nor had it farther been,
Than finite eyes,
Had sight encompassed me.

More facile to most
Than these, that twice
Fled sisterly, - lost
Were but the losing, not the lost,
Borne by the faint gust
Of transient life,
To sweet comparative repose.

At first glance, the poem seems to be about the afterlife, specifically, the distance between our world and heaven. However, Dickinson's poetry is rarely that straightforward. Let's dive deeper.

Analysis

Stanza 1

The first stanza sets the tone for the poem. "Than Heaven more remote" suggests that there is some kind of distance or separation between us and heaven. The next line, "For Heaven is the root", seems to reinforce this idea. However, the last two lines of the stanza hint at something more. "But these the flitted seed. / More flown indeed / Than ones that never were," suggests that there is a difference between those who have lived and died and those who have never been born. The speaker seems to be saying that those who have lived and died are more distant from heaven than those who never had the chance to live.

Stanza 2

The second stanza is even more cryptic. "Breath has not blown / So far away," suggests that whatever is being referred to is not that far from us. However, the next line, "But cherub choir / Would catch the lay," seems to suggest that whatever it is, it is unreachable to us. The last line of the stanza, "Had sight encompassed me", implies that the speaker cannot see whatever it is they are referring to.

Stanza 3

The third stanza seems to be a continuation of the second. "More facile to most / Than these, that twice / Fled sisterly, - lost," suggests that whatever the speaker is referring to is easier for most people to grasp than the subject of the previous stanza. However, the next line, "Were but the losing, not the lost," seems to contradict this. The final two lines of the stanza, "To sweet comparative repose", suggest that whatever is being referred to is a kind of peaceful rest.

Interpretation

So what does it all mean? As with much of Emily Dickinson's poetry, the interpretation of "Than Heaven more remote" is open to debate. Here are a few possible interpretations:

The afterlife

The most obvious interpretation of the poem is that it is about the afterlife. The distance between our world and heaven is the central theme of the poem, and the idea that those who have never lived are closer to heaven than those who have suggests that there is some kind of judgment being made about who is worthy of heaven and who is not.

The fleeting nature of life

Another interpretation of the poem is that it is about the fleeting nature of life. The idea that those who have lived and died are more distant from heaven than those who have never been born suggests that life is a kind of punishment, and that death is a release from that punishment. The final lines of the poem, "To sweet comparative repose", support this interpretation, suggesting that whatever is being referred to is a kind of peaceful rest.

The limitations of human understanding

A third interpretation of the poem is that it is about the limitations of human understanding. The idea that whatever is being referred to is unreachable and unseen suggests that there are things in the world that we cannot comprehend. The final lines of the poem, "To sweet comparative repose", suggest that whatever is being referred to is not something that we need to understand, but something that we can take comfort in knowing exists.

Conclusion

"Than Heaven more remote" is a challenging poem to interpret. Its cryptic nature and ambiguous themes make it a puzzle waiting to be solved. However, the poem is also a testament to Emily Dickinson's skill as a poet. Her ability to convey complex ideas through sparse language and metaphor is unmatched in American literature. While we may never know exactly what "Than Heaven more remote" is about, the journey of trying to figure it out is a rewarding one.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Than Heaven more remote: 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. Among her many famous poems is "Than Heaven more remote," a beautiful and thought-provoking piece that explores the nature of love, loss, and the human condition. In this article, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this classic poem, and explore the ways in which it speaks to us across time and space.

The poem begins with the line "Than Heaven more remote," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The word "remote" suggests distance and separation, and this theme is echoed throughout the poem. The speaker is describing a love that is so intense and all-consuming that it transcends even the boundaries of heaven itself. This is a love that is beyond human comprehension, and yet it is something that we all long for on some level.

The second line of the poem reads "For Heaven is only a state of mind," which is a powerful statement in and of itself. The speaker is suggesting that heaven is not a physical place, but rather a mental state that we can achieve through our thoughts and actions. This is a common theme in Dickinson's work, as she often explores the relationship between the physical and the spiritual realms.

The third line of the poem is where things start to get really interesting. The speaker says "Love is the only reality," which is a bold and provocative statement. This line suggests that everything else in the world is just an illusion, and that love is the only thing that truly matters. This is a radical idea, and one that challenges our conventional notions of reality and existence.

The fourth line of the poem reads "And all else is unreal," which reinforces the idea that everything else in the world is just a facade. The speaker is suggesting that we should focus our attention on love, and that everything else is just a distraction. This is a powerful message, and one that is particularly relevant in our modern world, where we are constantly bombarded with distractions and stimuli.

The fifth line of the poem is where the theme of loss comes into play. The speaker says "And the only loss is the loss of love," which is a poignant and heartbreaking statement. This line suggests that the only thing that truly matters in life is love, and that the loss of love is the greatest tragedy that we can experience. This is a universal theme that resonates with readers across time and space.

The sixth and final line of the poem is perhaps the most powerful of all. The speaker says "For love is all there is, and all there ever was." This line suggests that love is not just a fleeting emotion, but rather a fundamental aspect of the universe itself. Love is the force that binds us all together, and it is the one thing that will endure long after we are gone. This is a beautiful and inspiring message, and one that reminds us of the power and importance of love in our lives.

In conclusion, "Than Heaven more remote" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the nature of love, loss, and the human condition. Through its powerful imagery and provocative statements, the poem challenges us to rethink our conventional notions of reality and existence, and to focus our attention on the one thing that truly matters in life: love. This is a message that is as relevant today as it was when Dickinson first wrote it, and it is a testament to the enduring power and beauty of her work.

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