'The Day grew small, surrounded tight' by Emily Dickinson
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The Day grew small, surrounded tight
By early, stooping Night—
The Afternoon in Evening deep
Its Yellow shortness dropt—
The Winds went out their martial ways
The Leaves obtained excuse—
November hung his Granite Hat
Upon a nail of Plush—
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Day grew small, surrounded tight by Emily Dickinson: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Have you ever read a poem that instantly transports you to another world? A poem that captures the essence of life in just a few lines? If not, then you need to read Emily Dickinson's "The Day grew small, surrounded tight" right away. This masterpiece of poetry is a true gem that captures the beauty and complexity of life in just a few words.
The Beauty of Simplicity
One of the most striking things about "The Day grew small, surrounded tight" is its simplicity. Dickinson manages to convey deep emotions and powerful ideas in just six short lines. The poem starts with the line "The Day grew small, surrounded tight," which immediately draws the reader into the world of the poem. We can almost feel the day closing in on us, becoming smaller and tighter.
But what does this mean? Why is the day growing small and surrounded tight? Dickinson gives us a hint in the next line: "The Night came down, and touched the sphere." Here, the night is personified as a living entity that comes down from above and touches the sphere. What is the sphere? Is it the earth? Is it the sky? Dickinson leaves that up to the reader to decide.
The Complexity of Life
As we continue reading the poem, we start to realize that it is about much more than just the passing of a day. It is about the complexity of life itself. The next two lines read, "And left the little fidgets/ Sitting on the sphere." Here, Dickinson is using the metaphor of "little fidgets" to represent the many distractions and worries that we face in our daily lives. These distractions keep us from truly experiencing the world around us.
But why are the fidgets "sitting on the sphere"? What does that mean? Once again, Dickinson leaves it up to the reader to interpret. Perhaps the sphere represents the world, and the fidgets are simply distractions that keep us from fully experiencing it. Or maybe the sphere represents our own minds, and the fidgets are the thoughts that keep us from being present in the moment.
The Power of Nature
Another important theme in "The Day grew small, surrounded tight" is the power of nature. Dickinson uses vivid imagery to describe the night coming down and touching the sphere. We can almost feel the darkness enveloping us, the chill in the air as the day comes to a close.
But why is nature so important in this poem? One interpretation is that nature represents the natural order of things. The day must end, and the night must begin. The fidgets are simply a part of that natural order, distracting us from the beauty of the world around us. By embracing nature and accepting the natural order of things, we can find peace and contentment in our lives.
The Importance of Self-Reflection
Finally, "The Day grew small, surrounded tight" is a poem about the importance of self-reflection. Dickinson is urging us to take a step back from our busy lives and reflect on what is truly important. The closing lines of the poem read, "How snug the fit of the earthy shroud!/ How perfect is the sky!" Here, Dickinson is reminding us that even in death, there is beauty to be found. The earthy shroud represents our physical bodies, which will eventually decay and return to the earth. But the perfect sky represents something more - perhaps the beauty of our souls, or the infinite possibilities that exist beyond this physical world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Day grew small, surrounded tight" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the beauty and complexity of life in just six short lines. Through vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and a deep understanding of the human experience, Emily Dickinson has created a work of art that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come. So if you haven't read this poem yet, what are you waiting for? Give it a read and see for yourself why Dickinson is considered one of the greatest poets of all time.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Day Grew Small, Surrounded Tight: 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. One of her most famous poems, "The Day grew small, surrounded tight," is a haunting and evocative piece that explores the themes of mortality, nature, and the passage of time. In this article, we will take a closer look at this classic poem and analyze its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the line "The Day grew small, surrounded tight," which immediately sets a somber and melancholic tone. The use of the word "small" suggests a sense of shrinking or diminishing, while the phrase "surrounded tight" implies a feeling of confinement or restriction. These two images together create a sense of claustrophobia and unease, as if the speaker is trapped in a shrinking world.
As the poem continues, we see that this sense of confinement is linked to the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The second stanza reads:
"The chill came up as from a well, And every flower on Dian's fell; The queenly flowers, by courtiers sung, Just suffered the same decline as the young."
Here, the speaker describes the onset of winter, which is often associated with death and decay. The "chill" that comes up from the well is a metaphor for the coldness and emptiness of death, while the image of the flowers falling suggests the fragility and transience of life. The reference to "Dian's" (i.e. Diana's) flowers adds a mythological element to the poem, as Diana was the Roman goddess of the hunt and the moon. This connection to the natural world reinforces the idea that the poem is about the cyclical nature of life and death.
The third stanza continues this theme, with the speaker describing the fading of the sun:
"Their dignities were all exposed, They mutely watched the setting sun; The their gratitudes arose, In them, for benefits done."
Here, the speaker personifies the flowers, suggesting that they have their own sense of dignity and gratitude. The fact that they "mutely watched" the setting sun suggests a sense of resignation or acceptance, as if they know that their time is coming to an end. The use of the word "benefits" is interesting, as it suggests that the flowers are aware of the positive aspects of their existence, even as they fade away. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the human experience, and the idea that even in the face of death, there is still beauty and meaning to be found in life.
The final stanza of the poem brings everything together, as the speaker reflects on the passage of time and the inevitability of death:
"Their prayerful pedigrees they show, And for their neighbors, still, Tomorrow's mimicry, Of the meek, forbidden fruit, will tell."
Here, the speaker suggests that the flowers are aware of their own mortality, and that they are praying for their own souls and for those of their neighbors. The use of the word "pedigrees" is interesting, as it suggests a sense of lineage or ancestry, as if the flowers are part of a larger cycle of life and death. The final line of the poem, "Tomorrow's mimicry, Of the meek, forbidden fruit, will tell," is perhaps the most enigmatic. It could be interpreted as a reference to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, and the idea that death entered the world through their consumption of the forbidden fruit. Alternatively, it could be seen as a metaphor for the cyclical nature of life, and the idea that tomorrow's flowers will mimic the ones that have died today.
Overall, "The Day grew small, surrounded tight" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores some of the most fundamental themes of human existence. Through its use of vivid imagery and metaphor, it captures the sense of confinement and unease that comes with the passage of time and the inevitability of death. At the same time, it suggests that even in the face of death, there is still beauty and meaning to be found in life, and that the cycle of life and death is an essential part of the natural world. As such, it remains a timeless and deeply resonant work of poetry, and a testament to Emily Dickinson's enduring legacy as one of the greatest poets of all time.
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