'Ourselves we do inter with sweet derision' by Emily Dickinson

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Ourselves we do inter with sweet derision.
The channel of the dust who once achieves
Invalidates the balm of that religion
That doubts as fervently as it believes.

Edited by Peter Carter

Editor 1 Interpretation

Ourselves we do inter with sweet derision by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Emily Dickinson is one of the most enigmatic and fascinating poets in the history of American literature. Her poetic style is characterized by its brevity, its unconventional use of punctuation, and its deep, often ambiguous, and elusive meanings. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the classic poem "Ourselves we do inter with sweet derision," analyze its structure, imagery, and themes, and provide insights into its possible interpretations and meanings.

The Poem

Here is the poem in its entirety:

Ourselves we do inter with sweet derision— The years, we bury in succession, Not knowing which is last.

So most take bonnet, staff, and partner, And start on the new pilgrimage, But whether it will lead abroad Or home again to sigh, We do not ask, or calculate, Or show a token sign, But start, and reach a finger Past every known divin.

At first glance, the poem seems to be a meditation on the fragility and uncertainty of life, and the inevitability of death. The speaker reflects on how we bury ourselves with "sweet derision," mocking our own mortality, as we bury the passing years one by one, without knowing which one will be our last. The second stanza seems to suggest that most people embark on new journeys without knowing where they will lead, whether they will take them abroad or back home, and without asking or calculating the risks involved. The poem ends with a powerful image of the speaker reaching a finger past every known divin, as if trying to touch the infinite and the unknown.

Structure and Sound

Let's start by analyzing the structure and sound of the poem. The poem is composed of two quatrains, or four-line stanzas, with a rhyme scheme of ABCB. The meter is irregular, with lines ranging from six to ten syllables, and the punctuation is sparse, with only one comma in the first stanza and none in the second. The lack of punctuation creates a sense of urgency and breathlessness, as if the speaker is racing against time and trying to capture the fleeting moments of life before they slip away.

The sound of the poem is also noteworthy, with its use of alliteration, assonance, and consonance. The first line, for example, contains the repetition of the "s" sound in "ourselves" and "sweet," and the "d" sound in "do" and "derision." The second line contains the repetition of the "b" sound in "bury" and "succession," and the third line contains the repetition of the "l" sound in "last." The second stanza contains the repetition of the "t" sound in "take," "staff," "partner," "start," and "calculate," and the repetition of the "a" sound in "abroad" and "calculate." These sound devices create a musical quality to the poem and reinforce its themes and meanings.

Imagery and Themes

Now let's turn to the imagery and themes of the poem. The first stanza contains the metaphor of burying ourselves with "sweet derision," which suggests a mixture of self-mockery and acceptance of our own mortality. The image of burying the passing years also suggests the idea of time as a burial ground, where all our memories, experiences, and achievements are interred. The uncertainty of not knowing which year will be our last reinforces the idea of the fragility and unpredictability of life.

The second stanza contains the metaphor of a pilgrimage, which suggests a spiritual or metaphorical journey. The use of the word "most" implies that not everyone takes this journey, or that some do it reluctantly or without enthusiasm. The image of taking a bonnet, staff, and partner suggests the idea of preparation, companionship, and guidance, but also the idea of vulnerability, fragility, and dependence. The uncertainty of not knowing where the journey will lead reinforces the idea of the unpredictability and risk of life.

The final image of the speaker reaching past every known divin suggests the idea of transcendence, of reaching beyond the known and the finite, of touching the infinite and the eternal. The use of the word "divin" instead of "divine" suggests a playful and unconventional use of language, as if the speaker is trying to create a new word that combines divinity and divination. This final image reinforces the idea of the mystery and the wonder of life, of the need to embrace the unknown and the infinite.

Interpretations and Meanings

What do all these images and themes mean? What is the poem trying to say? The beauty of Emily Dickinson's poetry is that it resists easy answers and definitive interpretations. The poem "Ourselves we do inter with sweet derision" can be read in many ways, depending on the reader's perspective, context, and mood. Here are some possible interpretations and meanings:

• The poem is a memento mori, a reminder of our own mortality and the fleetingness of life. The use of "sweet derision" suggests a mixture of humor and acceptance, as if the speaker is mocking death but also acknowledging its inevitability.

• The poem is a meditation on the human condition, on our vulnerability, our uncertainty, and our need for companionship and guidance. The use of the pilgrimage metaphor suggests a spiritual or existential journey, a quest for meaning and purpose.

• The poem is a critique of our culture's obsession with productivity, efficiency, and success, and a celebration of the beauty and the wonder of life. The use of the burying metaphor suggests the idea that we should not measure our lives by our achievements or our possessions, but by our experiences and our relationships.

• The poem is a reflection on the nature of language and its limitations and possibilities. The use of unconventional punctuation, capitalization, and spelling suggests the idea that language can be playful, inventive, and subversive, that it can express complex emotions and ideas that defy easy definition.

• The poem is a celebration of Emily Dickinson's own poetic style, which is characterized by its brevity, its unconventional use of language and punctuation, and its deep, often ambiguous, and elusive meanings. The poem can be read as a tribute to her own poetic voice and vision.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the poem "Ourselves we do inter with sweet derision" by Emily Dickinson is a masterpiece of American poetry, a meditation on the fragility and uncertainty of life, on the human condition, on the beauty and the wonder of existence. Its structure, sound, imagery, and themes create a powerful and evocative effect, and its possible interpretations and meanings are many and varied. The poem reminds us of the infinite possibilities of language and the mystery and the magic of life.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Ourselves we do inter with sweet derision: A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson, the renowned American poet, is known for her unique style of writing that often explores themes of death, nature, and spirituality. Her poem "Ourselves we do inter with sweet derision" is a classic example of her work, and it is a masterpiece that has stood the test of time.

The poem is a short but powerful piece that explores the human tendency to mock and ridicule ourselves. It is a reflection on the way we treat ourselves and the way we view our own flaws and imperfections. The poem is a reminder that we should be kinder to ourselves and that we should learn to accept our flaws and weaknesses.

The poem begins with the line "Ourselves we do inter with sweet derision," which sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The word "inter" means to bury, and the use of this word in the opening line suggests that the poem is about burying something within ourselves. The phrase "sweet derision" is an oxymoron, as derision is usually associated with negativity and criticism. However, the use of the word "sweet" suggests that there is a certain pleasure or satisfaction that comes from mocking ourselves.

The second line of the poem reads, "The channel of the dust who once achieves". This line is a reference to the fact that we are all made of dust and that we will all return to dust eventually. The use of the word "channel" suggests that we are all connected in some way, and that we are all part of the same cycle of life and death.

The third line of the poem reads, "Believed we could outlive ourselves in seas". This line is a reflection on the human desire for immortality. We all want to believe that we will live forever, and that our legacy will continue long after we are gone. However, the use of the word "believed" suggests that this desire for immortality is nothing more than a fantasy.

The fourth line of the poem reads, "The momentary satisfaction of our own decease". This line is a reflection on the fact that we often take pleasure in our own failures and shortcomings. We find satisfaction in mocking ourselves and in highlighting our own flaws and weaknesses. This is the "sweet derision" that the poem refers to.

The fifth line of the poem reads, "The meadows of the sea deface – in us". This line is a metaphor for the way that we deface ourselves with our own negativity and self-criticism. The "meadows of the sea" represent the beauty and serenity of nature, and the fact that we are defacing them suggests that we are destroying something beautiful within ourselves.

The final line of the poem reads, "Until we drown in that – and that is bliss". This line is a reflection on the fact that we often take pleasure in our own self-destruction. We find bliss in drowning in our own negativity and in allowing ourselves to be consumed by our flaws and weaknesses.

Overall, "Ourselves we do inter with sweet derision" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the human tendency to mock and ridicule ourselves. It is a reminder that we should be kinder to ourselves and that we should learn to accept our flaws and weaknesses. The poem is a masterpiece that has stood the test of time, and it is a testament to Emily Dickinson's skill as a poet.

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