'Her final Summer was it' by Emily Dickinson
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Her final Summer was it—
And yet We guessed it not—
If tenderer industriousness
Pervaded Her, We thought
A further force of life
Developed from within—
When Death lit all the shortness up
It made the hurry plain—
We wondered at our blindness
When nothing was to see
But Her Carrara Guide post—
At Our Stupidity—
When duller than our dullness
The Busy Darling lay—
So busy was she—finishing—
So leisurely—were We—
Editor 1 Interpretation
Her final Summer was it
Introduction
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated and enigmatic poets of all time. Her poetry is deeply personal and often explores themes of death, nature, and spirituality. One of her most haunting and beautiful poems is "Her final Summer was it," a reflection on the passing of a loved one. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will examine the form, structure, and themes of this classic poem.
Context
Emily Dickinson lived in Amherst, Massachusetts, during the mid-19th century. She was a reclusive figure who rarely left her home and corresponded with very few people. During her lifetime, only a handful of her poems were published, and she was not widely recognized as a poet until after her death.
"Her final Summer was it" is one of the many poems Dickinson wrote about death. It is believed to have been written in the early 1860s, during a period of intense personal sorrow for the poet. In this poem, Dickinson reflects on the passing of a loved one and the inevitability of death.
Form and Structure
"Her final Summer was it" is a short, four-stanza poem with an irregular rhyme scheme. The first and third lines of each stanza rhyme with each other, while the second and fourth lines do not. This creates an unsettling, off-kilter feeling that mirrors the poem's theme of loss and uncertainty.
The poem's meter is also irregular, with some lines consisting of four iambs (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable) and others consisting of three or five. This creates a sense of unpredictability and instability in the poem's rhythm, which heightens the sense of unease.
The poem's structure is relatively simple, with each stanza consisting of two complete sentences. The first sentence of each stanza describes a scene from nature, while the second sentence reflects on the speaker's emotions in response to that scene.
Themes
"Her final Summer was it" explores several themes, including death, grief, and the passage of time. The poem's title suggests that the subject has passed away during the summer, and the opening line confirms this: "Her final Summer, marked by the Birds."
Throughout the poem, Dickinson uses vivid, sensory language to describe the natural world. She writes of "the Orchards for a Judgement" and "the Butterflies, mated." These images evoke a sense of beauty and vitality, but they also serve as a reminder of the impermanence of life.
The poem's central theme is grief. The speaker reflects on the passing of a loved one, describing how "the Meadows spangled with Daisies / And the Buttercups tall / Shone like little Suns." These images suggest that life goes on even in the face of death, but they also serve as a stark contrast to the speaker's own feelings of sadness and loss.
Interpretation
"Her final Summer was it" is a haunting and beautiful poem that explores some of the most profound aspects of the human experience. The poem's irregular structure and rhyme scheme create a sense of unease that mirrors the theme of death and loss.
Dickinson's use of vivid sensory language to describe the natural world creates a rich and evocative landscape that serves as a backdrop to the speaker's grief. The contrast between the beauty of nature and the speaker's pain underscores the poem's main theme: that life is fleeting and precious, and that we must savor every moment while we can.
The poem's final stanza is particularly powerful, with the speaker declaring that "a Day like this, too curious / Fought too be gone." This image suggests that even in the face of death, life is worth fighting for. The speaker's determination to hold on to life and find meaning in the face of loss is a powerful message that resonates with readers to this day.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Her final Summer was it" is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores some of the most profound aspects of the human experience. Through its vivid imagery, irregular structure, and powerful themes, the poem speaks to our shared experiences of loss, grief, and the passage of time. Dickinson's poetry continues to captivate readers almost two centuries later, and "Her final Summer was it" is a testament to her enduring legacy as one of America's greatest poets.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her poem "Her final Summer was it" is a classic example of her unique style and poetic genius. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in this poem to understand its deeper meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the line "Her final Summer was it," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "final" suggests that the speaker is referring to someone who has passed away, and the word "Summer" implies that this person's life has come to an end. This opening line is a powerful example of Dickinson's ability to convey complex emotions and ideas in just a few words.
As the poem continues, we learn more about the person who has passed away. The speaker describes how "The light upon her forehead / Was dwindled down to bones." This image of a person's light fading away is a common motif in Dickinson's poetry, and it suggests that the person in question has lost their vitality and energy. The use of the word "bones" is also significant, as it implies that the person has become nothing more than a skeleton, stripped of all flesh and life.
The next few lines of the poem describe how the person's "Summer" has come to an end. The speaker says that "The angels, happening that way, / This summer afternoon, / Upon a stately pleasure dome / Their summerhouse had gone." This imagery of angels visiting a pleasure dome is both beautiful and haunting, and it suggests that the person who has passed away has gone to a place of great beauty and joy.
However, the poem also suggests that this person's life was not always filled with joy and happiness. The speaker describes how "The moments of her life / Were dwindled like the dew, / And all the fragrance of her youth / Was withered like a rose." This image of a person's life being like dew that evaporates in the morning sun is a powerful metaphor for the fleeting nature of human existence. It suggests that no matter how much we try to hold onto life, it will eventually slip away from us.
The image of the withered rose is also significant, as it suggests that the person in question has lost their beauty and vitality. This is a common theme in Dickinson's poetry, as she often explores the idea of aging and mortality. In this poem, she suggests that even the most beautiful and vibrant people will eventually succumb to the ravages of time.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker says that "The summer that had been, / An easy, gracious thing, / Was gone, and in its place we stood, / As strangers, at a loss." This image of standing as strangers at a loss is a powerful metaphor for the experience of grief. It suggests that when someone we love dies, we are left feeling lost and alone, as if we are strangers in a world that no longer makes sense.
However, the poem also suggests that there is hope in the face of loss. The speaker says that "The sunset caught her forehead, / And filled it with a glow, / And all the angels, in that hour, / Knelt down and kissed her brow." This image of the sunset filling the person's forehead with a glow is a beautiful metaphor for the idea that even in death, there is still beauty and light. The image of the angels kneeling down and kissing the person's brow is also significant, as it suggests that even in death, there is still love and compassion.
In conclusion, "Her final Summer was it" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of aging, mortality, and grief. Through its use of vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, it conveys the complex emotions and experiences that come with the loss of a loved one. Dickinson's unique style and poetic genius are on full display in this poem, and it is a testament to her enduring legacy as one of the greatest poets of all time.
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