'What would I give to see his face?' by Emily Dickinson
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What would I give to see his face?
I'd give—I'd give my life—of course—
But that is not enough!
Stop just a minute—let me think!
I'd give my biggest Bobolink!
That makes two—Him—and Life!
You know who "June" is—
I'd give her—
Roses a day from Zanzibar—
And Lily tubes—like Wells—
Bees—by the furlong—
Straits of Blue
Navies of Butterflies—sailed thro'—
And dappled Cowslip Dells—
Then I have "shares" in Primrose "Banks"—
Daffodil Dowries—spicy "Stocks"—
Dominions—broad as Dew—
Bags of Doublons—adventurous Bees
Brought me—from firmamental seas—
And Purple—from Peru—
Now—have I bought it—
"Shylock"? Say!
Sign me the Bond!
"I vow to pay
To Her—who pledges this—
One hour—of her Sovereign's face"!
Ecstatic Contract!
Niggard Grace!
My Kingdom's worth of Bliss!
Editor 1 Interpretation
"What would I give to see his face?" by Emily Dickinson: A Critical Interpretation
Emily Dickinson's poem "What would I give to see his face?" is a simple yet powerful expression of love and longing. Written in her characteristic style, the poem captures the intensity of emotion that comes with the desire to see someone's face, and the pain of separation that accompanies that desire.
The Poem
Before diving into a detailed analysis of the poem, let us first read the text in its entirety:
What would I give to see his face?
I'd give—I'd give my life—of course—
But that is not enough!
Stop just a minute—let me think!
I'd give my biggest Bobolink!
That makes two—Him—and Life!
You know who "June" is—
I'd give her—Roses a day from Zanzibar—
And Lily tubes—like Wells—
Bees—by the furlong—Straits of Blue
Navies of Butterflies—sailed thro'
And dappled Cowslip Dells!
Then I have "shares" in Primrose "Banks"—
Daffodil Dowries—spicy "Stocks"—
Dominions—broad as Dew—
Bags of Doubloons—adventurous Bees—
Linger—Plankton—new horizons—
Frontiers of the Sea!
Leagues from here—there is a Reef—
Some call it "Home"—Paunch of Pearl—
Whether he know—if he know not—
That is the way I want to tell this Evening!
The Analysis
At first glance, the poem appears to be a simple expression of the speaker's desire to see the face of someone they love. However, a closer examination reveals that the poem is much more complex than that.
Line by Line Analysis
The poem opens with a simple statement of the speaker's desire: "What would I give to see his face?" The use of the word "his" suggests that the speaker is female and that the person she is talking about is male. This sets up a dynamic of gender and power that runs throughout the poem.
The next line, "I'd give—I'd give my life—of course—" is a hyperbolic expression of the speaker's love. By saying that she would give her life to see the person's face, she is emphasizing the importance of that person to her. However, she quickly qualifies this statement by saying "But that is not enough!" This suggests that the speaker is aware that such a sacrifice is not possible or desirable.
The next line, "Stop just a minute—let me think!" interrupts the flow of the poem and draws attention to the speaker's thought process. This creates a sense of urgency and excitement that is carried through the rest of the poem.
The speaker then goes on to list a series of things that she would give in order to see the person's face. The first item on the list is "my biggest Bobolink!" This is an interesting choice, as it is not something that most people would consider valuable. However, the choice of a bird as a symbol of love and sacrifice is in keeping with Dickinson's pastoral themes.
The next line, "That makes two—Him—and Life!" is an example of Dickinson's use of dashes to create a sense of fragmentation and interruption. By breaking up the sentence in this way, she emphasizes the importance of the two things she is giving: the bird and her life.
The next few lines of the poem introduce a series of images and symbols that contribute to the overall sense of longing and desire. The speaker mentions "June", "Roses a day from Zanzibar", "Lily tubes—like Wells—", "Bees—by the furlong—Straits of Blue", "Navies of Butterflies—sailed thro'", and "dappled Cowslip Dells!" Each of these images suggests abundance and beauty, and the fact that the speaker would give them up to see the person's face emphasizes the depth of her desire.
The next few lines of the poem mention "shares" in various things, including "Primrose Banks", "Daffodil Dowries", and "spicy Stocks". These are all examples of financial imagery, and they suggest that the speaker is willing to give up her material possessions in order to see the person's face.
The final lines of the poem introduce a sense of distance and separation: "Leagues from here—there is a Reef—/ Some call it 'Home'—Paunch of Pearl—". The fact that the person the speaker is talking about is so far away adds to the sense of longing and desire that runs throughout the poem.
The final line of the poem, "Whether he know—if he know not—/ That is the way I want to tell this Evening!" is an example of Dickinson's characteristic use of uncertainty and ambiguity. The fact that the speaker is not sure whether the person she is talking about knows how she feels adds to the sense of tension and longing that runs throughout the poem.
Themes and Interpretation
The themes of love and longing are central to "What would I give to see his face?" The poem is a powerful expression of the intensity of emotion that comes with the desire to see someone's face, and the pain of separation that accompanies that desire.
The gender dynamic that is set up in the first line of the poem is also an important theme. The fact that the speaker is female and the person she is talking about is male creates a sense of power imbalance that is reflected throughout the poem. The fact that the speaker is willing to give up so much in order to see the person's face emphasizes the depth of her love and the intensity of her desire.
The use of imagery throughout the poem is also significant. The images of birds, flowers, and insects all suggest abundance and beauty, and the fact that the speaker is willing to give these things up emphasizes the depth of her love. The financial imagery that is introduced later in the poem is also significant, as it suggests that the speaker is willing to give up her material possessions in order to see the person's face.
The sense of distance and separation that is introduced in the final lines of the poem is also an important theme. The fact that the person the speaker is talking about is so far away adds to the sense of longing and desire that runs throughout the poem, and emphasizes the difficulty of the speaker's situation.
Conclusion
"What would I give to see his face?" is a powerful expression of love and longing. Although it is a simple poem, it is rich with imagery and emotion. The themes of love, power, and separation are all expressed through the speaker's intense desire to see the person's face. Overall, the poem is a testament to the power of human emotion and the depth of feeling that can be expressed through poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
What Would I Give to See His Face? A Poem by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson is a renowned poet who is known for her unique style of writing. Her poems are often short, but they are packed with meaning and depth. One of her most famous poems is "What Would I Give to See His Face?" This poem is a beautiful expression of love and longing, and it has captured the hearts of readers for generations.
The poem begins with the speaker expressing her desire to see the face of someone she loves. She says, "What would I give to see his face? / I'd give—I'd give my life—of course— / But that is not enough!" These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with a sense of desperation and yearning.
The speaker goes on to describe the many things she would give up in order to see the face of her beloved. She says she would give up "all else— / That I—dare not—take / And I'd give my soul for just one glance." These lines show the depth of the speaker's love and the lengths she is willing to go to in order to be with the person she loves.
The poem then takes a turn as the speaker acknowledges that her desire to see her beloved's face may never be fulfilled. She says, "Might I but moor—tonight— / In thee!" This line suggests that the speaker is hoping to find some sort of solace or comfort in her beloved, even if she cannot physically be with him.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most poignant. The speaker says, "Ferret cannot find me here; / My latest whim / Is that thou art my best of rest, / My only friend." These lines suggest that the speaker has resigned herself to the fact that she may never see her beloved's face, but she still finds comfort in the thought of him. She sees him as her "best of rest" and her "only friend," which shows the depth of their connection even if they cannot be together physically.
Overall, "What Would I Give to See His Face?" is a beautiful and poignant poem that captures the essence of love and longing. Emily Dickinson's unique style of writing and her ability to convey complex emotions in just a few lines is truly remarkable. This poem is a testament to her talent and her ability to connect with readers on a deep and emotional level.
One of the most striking aspects of this poem is the sense of desperation and yearning that the speaker expresses. She is willing to give up everything she has in order to be with the person she loves, and this sense of sacrifice is both beautiful and heartbreaking. The poem also touches on the idea of unrequited love, as the speaker acknowledges that her desire to see her beloved's face may never be fulfilled.
Another interesting aspect of this poem is the use of imagery. The speaker uses the image of a ship mooring to convey her desire to be with her beloved. This image is powerful because it suggests that the speaker sees her beloved as a safe harbor, a place where she can find refuge and comfort. The use of the word "ferret" in the final stanza is also interesting, as it suggests that the speaker is hiding or seeking refuge from something. This adds another layer of complexity to the poem and leaves the reader with a sense of mystery and intrigue.
In conclusion, "What Would I Give to See His Face?" is a beautiful and powerful poem that captures the essence of love and longing. Emily Dickinson's unique style of writing and her ability to convey complex emotions in just a few lines is truly remarkable. This poem is a testament to her talent and her ability to connect with readers on a deep and emotional level. Whether you are a fan of poetry or not, this poem is sure to touch your heart and leave you with a sense of awe and wonder.
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