'Whose cheek is this?' by Emily Dickinson

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Whose cheek is this?
What rosy face
Has lost a blush today?
I found her—"pleiad"—in the woods
And bore her safe away.

Robins, in the tradition
Did cover such with leaves,
But which the cheek—
And which the pall
My scrutiny deceives.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"Whose cheek is this?" by Emily Dickinson: A Close Reading

Have you ever read a poem that made you stop and think, "What in the world is this about?" That's certainly what I thought when I first read Emily Dickinson's "Whose cheek is this?" But after spending some time with the poem, I've come to appreciate its complexities and, yes, even its beauty.

Let's start with the basics: "Whose cheek is this?" is a short poem with a simple question as its title. The poem itself is only four lines long:

Whose cheek is this?
What rosy face
Has lost a blush today?
I found her—"pleiad"—gone!

At first glance, the poem seems like a riddle of sorts. The speaker has found a rosy cheek that has lost its blush, and they're wondering whose cheek it is. But as we dig deeper, we start to see that there's more going on here than meets the eye.

First of all, let's talk about the language Dickinson uses. She's known for her sparse, unconventional style, and "Whose cheek is this?" is no exception. She doesn't bother with capital letters, and she uses dashes instead of commas or periods. This gives the poem a fragmented, almost breathless quality, like the speaker is struggling to convey their thoughts.

The first line sets the stage for the rest of the poem. "Whose cheek is this?" is a deceptively simple question, but it raises all sorts of possibilities. Whose cheek, indeed? Is it someone the speaker knows? A stranger? A lover? And why is the speaker so fascinated by this cheek, this one small part of a person's body?

The second line gives us a clue as to why the speaker is so captivated: the cheek is rosy. This implies youth and health and vitality, all things that are fleeting and precious. But then we get to the third line, where the rosy blush has been lost. Suddenly the cheek is no longer a symbol of life and energy, but of something faded and impermanent.

And then there's the last line, which is perhaps the most mysterious of all. The speaker has found "her"—who is she? And what does "pleiad" mean? A little research tells us that the Pleiades are a group of seven stars in the constellation Taurus, and in Greek mythology they were the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas. But what does that have to do with a lost blush on a cheek?

Here's where interpretation comes in. Some critics have suggested that the "her" in the last line refers to the person whose cheek the speaker has found. If that's the case, then "pleiad" could be a metaphor for the lost blush—just as the Pleiades are a group of stars that have faded from view, so too has the blush faded from the cheek. But others have suggested that "her" and "pleiad" are separate entities, and that the poem is actually about loss and the passage of time.

In this interpretation, the cheek represents youth and vitality, and the lost blush represents the inevitable fading of those qualities. The "her" could be anyone—the speaker's own youth, perhaps, or a loved one who has passed away. And the Pleiades could be a metaphor for all the things we lose as we grow older—the brightness of our youth, the people we love, the dreams we once had.

Of course, there's no one right answer when it comes to interpreting poetry. The beauty of Dickinson's work is that it's open to so many different readings, and "Whose cheek is this?" is no exception. But no matter how you choose to interpret it, there's no denying the power of this little poem. In just four lines, Dickinson manages to capture the fleeting nature of life and the beauty of the things we inevitably lose. Not bad for a simple question about a cheek.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Whose Cheek is This? A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson, one of the most renowned poets of the 19th century, is known for her unique style of writing that often explores themes of death, nature, and spirituality. Her poem "Whose Cheek is This?" is a prime example of her poetic genius, as it delves into the complexities of identity and self-discovery.

The poem begins with the line, "Whose cheek is this? What rosy face," immediately drawing the reader's attention to the physical appearance of the subject. The use of the word "rosy" suggests youth and vitality, while the question "Whose cheek is this?" implies a sense of mystery and intrigue. The poem's opening lines set the stage for a journey of self-discovery, as the speaker attempts to uncover the identity of the subject.

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to explore the subject's identity through a series of questions. "Has it expression?" the speaker asks, suggesting that the subject's face may reveal something about their inner thoughts and emotions. The use of the word "expression" also implies a sense of depth and complexity, as if the subject's identity is not easily discernible.

The speaker continues to question the subject's identity, asking, "Is it whole, or splintered?" This line suggests that the subject's identity may be fragmented or incomplete, further emphasizing the theme of self-discovery. The use of the word "splintered" also implies a sense of brokenness or vulnerability, adding to the poem's overall sense of mystery and intrigue.

As the poem reaches its climax, the speaker finally reveals the subject's identity: "That pink, defiant, lead." The use of the word "defiant" suggests a sense of rebellion or resistance, while the word "lead" implies a sense of heaviness or burden. Together, these words create a complex and nuanced portrait of the subject's identity, one that is both strong and vulnerable, rebellious and burdened.

The poem's final lines, "The happy news / Invented for the news / That every day / Is made," suggest that the discovery of the subject's identity is a cause for celebration. The use of the word "invented" implies a sense of creativity and imagination, while the phrase "every day is made" suggests that every day is an opportunity for self-discovery and growth.

Overall, "Whose Cheek is This?" is a masterful exploration of identity and self-discovery. Through a series of questions and vivid imagery, Emily Dickinson creates a complex and nuanced portrait of the subject's identity, one that is both mysterious and celebratory. The poem's themes of rebellion, vulnerability, and creativity make it a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today.

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