'Somewhat, to hope for' by Emily Dickinson
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Somewhat, to hope for,
Be it ne'er so far
Is Capital against Despair—
Somewhat, to suffer,
Be it ne'er so keen—
If terminable, may be borne.
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
Somewhat, to hope for: Emily Dickinson's poem of yearning
Emily Dickinson is a poet whose works have intrigued and captivated readers for over a century. Her unique voice and style have made her one of the most distinctive and celebrated poets in American literature. Her poems are often characterized by their spare language and their profound insights into human nature. One of her most famous poems, "Somewhat, to hope for," is a powerful expression of longing and yearning that resonates with readers to this day.
The poem's structure and language
"Somewhat, to hope for" is a short poem consisting of four stanzas of two lines each. The poem's brevity and simplicity are part of its power, as they emphasize the intensity of the speaker's emotional state. The poem's language is also spare and direct, with few adjectives or adverbs. This lack of embellishment gives the poem a stark, almost austere quality that highlights the speaker's intense emotions.
The poem's title is itself a reflection of its theme of yearning and hope. The phrase "somewhat, to hope for" suggests a vague and uncertain possibility, a glimmer of hope that is not quite tangible. This sense of ambiguity is echoed in the poem's opening lines, which describe a feeling of longing that is both intense and indistinct:
We outgrow love like other things
And put it in the Drawer—
Till it an Antique fashion shows—
Like Costumes Grandsires wore.
Here, the speaker suggests that love is something that can be put away and forgotten, like an old piece of clothing. However, she also hints that this love may be rediscovered and valued again, like an antique garment that has come back into fashion. The poem's language is full of such paradoxes and contradictions, as the speaker struggles to express her complex emotions.
The themes of longing and hope
The poem's central theme is the human yearning for connection and love. The speaker describes a feeling of "outgrowing" love, which suggests that love is something that can be discarded like a childish toy. However, the poem also suggests that this sense of loss is not permanent, and that there is always the possibility of rediscovering love again. This theme is reflected in the poem's closing lines, which express a sense of optimism and possibility:
Like the Year
Upon the Door—
Her Tomb was fashioned,
No more her little Hat.
Here, the speaker suggests that even death cannot extinguish the possibility of hope and renewal. The image of the year upon the door suggests the turning of the seasons, and the cyclical nature of life. The image of the tomb being fashioned suggests a sense of finality, but this is countered by the image of the "little hat," which suggests a sense of playfulness and whimsy. Together, these images suggest that hope and renewal are always possible, even in the face of loss and despair.
The role of the speaker and the reader
The poem's speaker is a complex and enigmatic figure. She expresses a sense of yearning and longing, but also a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. The reader is left to interpret her words and try to understand her emotions. This sense of ambiguity is part of what makes the poem so powerful, as it allows the reader to project their own emotions and experiences onto the speaker.
The poem also raises questions about the relationship between the speaker and the reader. Who is the speaker addressing? Is the reader meant to identify with the speaker, or to see her as an object of contemplation? These questions are left unanswered, but they add to the poem's sense of mystery and complexity.
Conclusion
"Somewhat, to hope for" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the complexity of human emotions. Its spare language and structure give it a stark and austere quality that emphasizes the intensity of the speaker's emotional state. The poem's central theme of longing and hope is one that resonates with readers to this day, and its enigmatic speaker continues to intrigue and captivate readers. Emily Dickinson's poem is a testament to the power of poetry to express the deepest and most profound aspects of human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Somewhat, to hope for: A Deep Dive into Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem
Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of all time, is known for her unique style of writing and her ability to capture the essence of human emotions in her poetry. Her poem "Somewhat, to hope for" is a perfect example of her mastery of language and her ability to convey complex emotions in a few simple words. In this article, we will take a deep dive into this classic poem and explore its meaning, symbolism, and significance.
The poem begins with the line "Somewhat, to hope for," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The word "somewhat" suggests that the speaker is not entirely sure what they are hoping for, but they still have a glimmer of hope. This uncertainty is further emphasized by the use of the word "hope," which implies that the speaker is not certain that their wishes will come true.
The second line of the poem, "Be it ne'er so far," adds to the sense of uncertainty and distance. The phrase "ne'er so far" suggests that the object of the speaker's hope is far away, both physically and emotionally. This distance could be interpreted in several ways, such as a physical distance between two people or an emotional distance between the speaker and their desires.
The third line of the poem, "It has one wing," is where the symbolism of the poem begins to emerge. The image of a bird with one wing suggests that the object of the speaker's hope is incomplete or imperfect. The bird, which is often associated with freedom and flight, is unable to fly with only one wing. This image could be interpreted as a metaphor for the speaker's own sense of incompleteness or the incompleteness of their desires.
The fourth line of the poem, "Abashed of it, we are," adds another layer of complexity to the poem. The word "abashed" suggests that the speaker is embarrassed or ashamed of their hope. This could be interpreted as a reflection of the speaker's own insecurities or a fear of being judged by others for their desires. The use of the word "we" suggests that the speaker is not alone in their feelings of embarrassment or shame.
The final line of the poem, "Quietly we await the bird," brings the poem to a close with a sense of anticipation and longing. The word "quietly" suggests that the speaker is waiting patiently and with a sense of resignation. The use of the word "await" suggests that the object of the speaker's hope has not yet arrived, but they are still waiting for it. The image of the bird returning with its missing wing suggests that the object of the speaker's hope may be incomplete or imperfect, but it is still worth waiting for.
Overall, "Somewhat, to hope for" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complex emotions of hope, uncertainty, and longing. The use of symbolism and imagery adds depth and complexity to the poem, inviting the reader to interpret it in their own way. The poem's message is both universal and timeless, speaking to the human experience of hoping for something that may be out of reach or incomplete. Emily Dickinson's mastery of language and her ability to capture the essence of human emotions make this poem a true classic that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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