'Cocoon above! Cocoon below!' by Emily Dickinson
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Cocoon above! Cocoon below!
Stealthy Cocoon, why hide you so
What all the world suspect?
An hour, and gay on every tree
Your secret, perched in ecstasy
Defies imprisonment!
An hour in Chrysalis to pass,
Then gay above receding grass
A Butterfly to go!
A moment to interrogate,
Then wiser than a "Surrogate,"
The Universe to know!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Cocoon Above! Cocoon Below!: A Literary Criticism
Oh, how thrilling it is to analyze a classic poem! And what a gem we have in Emily Dickinson's "Cocoon above! Cocoon below!" This poem is a masterpiece of metaphor, a deft exploration of the human condition, and an invitation to ponder life's mysteries. Let's dive in!
Context and Background
First, a bit of context. Emily Dickinson was a prolific poet who lived in the 19th century, mostly in seclusion, and published only a handful of her poems during her lifetime. After her death, her sister discovered a cache of nearly 1800 poems, which were published posthumously and garnered Dickinson a reputation as one of the greatest American poets.
"Cocoon above! Cocoon below!" was likely written in the 1860s or 1870s, during a time when Dickinson was grappling with issues of mortality and the afterlife. The poem is written in Dickinson's signature style, with short lines and dashes instead of punctuation, which give the poem an intimate and urgent tone.
Analysis
Let's take a closer look at the poem itself. The title, "Cocoon above! Cocoon below!", immediately sets up a sense of confinement and enclosure. A cocoon is a protective casing that encloses a caterpillar as it transforms into a butterfly. Dickinson is using this image to explore the human experience of being enclosed or trapped, both physically and metaphorically.
The first two lines of the poem read:
Cocoon above! Cocoon below!
Stealthy Cocoon, why hide you so
What are we to make of this "stealthy cocoon"? It seems to be hiding something, to be secretive or mysterious. And yet, it is also protective, offering safety and shelter. The cocoon above and below create a sense of being surrounded, of being enclosed in a smaller world. This can be seen as a metaphor for the human experience of being confined by our bodies, by our thoughts and emotions, by our mortality.
The third and fourth lines read:
Say, what is it you do?
But Sift,—precise,—invisible,—
Here, Dickinson is asking the cocoon a direct question: what is it doing? And yet, the answer is elusive, "precise, invisible." The cocoon is a mystery, and perhaps Dickinson is suggesting that life itself is a mystery, that we are all in the dark about what we are doing or why we are here.
The fifth and sixth lines read:
Identified by thee,
What in me is seen?
Here, Dickinson is suggesting that the cocoon has the power to identify something in her, to reveal something about her that might not be visible otherwise. This can be seen as a metaphor for the power of art to reveal something about the human experience, to uncover truths that might be hidden or obscured.
The seventh and eighth lines read:
What spirits have you in reserve,
That you entice with more
Here, Dickinson is asking the cocoon what secrets it is keeping, what hidden reserves of energy or spirit it is withholding. This can be seen as a metaphor for the human experience of feeling that there is more to life than what we can see or experience on the surface.
The final four lines of the poem read:
Whose fold enclose thee?
Oh, of what seamlessness
Incarnate hems and fringes
What a prelude to thy "Yes"!
Here, Dickinson is returning to the image of the cocoon, asking who or what is enclosing it. And yet, she is also asking a larger question about the nature of existence itself. What is the "seamlessness" that encloses us all? What are the "incarnate hems and fringes" that make up our lives? And what is the "prelude" to the ultimate affirmation of life, the "Yes" of existence?
Interpretation
So, what can we take away from this poem? At its heart, "Cocoon above! Cocoon below!" is an exploration of the human experience of being enclosed or trapped, of feeling that there is more to life than what we can see or experience on the surface. Dickinson is using the image of the cocoon to express this, to suggest that life itself is a mystery, and that we are all in the dark about what we are doing or why we are here.
But Dickinson is also suggesting that there is something powerful and transformative about this enclosed state. Like the caterpillar in the cocoon, we are all in a state of transformation, of becoming something different. And like the cocoon itself, we are all hiding something, something that might be revealed through the power of art or the revelation of a deeper truth.
In the final lines of the poem, Dickinson suggests that the ultimate affirmation of life is the "Yes" of existence. This can be seen as a call to embrace life, to affirm its mystery and its power, and to find a sense of meaning and purpose in the midst of our confinement.
Conclusion
In the end, "Cocoon above! Cocoon below!" is a powerful and evocative poem that invites us to explore the mystery of life and to find meaning in the midst of our confinement. Dickinson's use of metaphor and her signature style create a sense of urgency and intimacy, drawing us into her world and inviting us to ponder life's mysteries. This is a poem that rewards close reading and careful contemplation, and its message is one that resonates across the centuries. So let us take up Dickinson's invitation, and explore the cocoon above and below, and find the prelude to our own "Yes" of existence.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Cocoon above! Cocoon below! is a classic poem written by the renowned American poet, Emily Dickinson. This poem is a beautiful representation of the transformation that takes place in the life cycle of a butterfly. In this analysis, we will explore the various themes and literary devices used in the poem, and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.
The poem begins with the line "Cocoon above! Cocoon below!" This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it immediately brings to mind the image of a butterfly cocoon. The use of repetition in this line also emphasizes the importance of the cocoon in the life cycle of a butterfly. The cocoon is a protective covering that allows the butterfly to undergo a metamorphosis and transform into its final form.
The next line of the poem reads, "Stealthy Cocoon, why hide you so?" This line is a rhetorical question that addresses the cocoon directly. The use of the word "stealthy" suggests that the cocoon is hiding intentionally, perhaps to protect itself from predators. This line also sets up the theme of secrecy and mystery that runs throughout the poem.
The third line of the poem reads, "What all the world suspect, that you / But prisoned, caterpillar, too?" This line is a continuation of the rhetorical question from the previous line. The speaker is asking if the cocoon is hiding because it is actually a prison for a caterpillar. This line introduces the theme of transformation, as it suggests that the caterpillar is undergoing a metamorphosis inside the cocoon.
The fourth line of the poem reads, "Your fate is less remorse / Than the worm's, who has to die / To thrive again in your demise." This line is a commentary on the natural cycle of life and death. The speaker is suggesting that the caterpillar's fate is less tragic than that of the worm, who must die in order for the butterfly to thrive. This line also introduces the theme of sacrifice, as it suggests that the caterpillar must sacrifice its old form in order to transform into a butterfly.
The fifth line of the poem reads, "Cocoon above! Cocoon below! / Stealthy Cocoon, why hide you so?" This line is a repetition of the first two lines of the poem. The use of repetition in this line emphasizes the importance of the cocoon in the life cycle of a butterfly, and the mystery and secrecy that surrounds it.
The sixth line of the poem reads, "What mean you by 'lest,' / With mission of the worm expires / So soon, and closes up its sides?" This line is another rhetorical question that addresses the cocoon directly. The use of the word "lest" suggests that the cocoon is hiding to avoid something. The speaker is asking what the cocoon is trying to avoid, and why it is closing up its sides so soon.
The seventh line of the poem reads, "What hope do you condense / Yourself, who bore, could odors run / So counter to your own?" This line is a continuation of the rhetorical question from the previous line. The speaker is asking what hope the cocoon has for itself, and why it is producing odors that are counter to its own nature. This line introduces the theme of contradiction, as it suggests that the cocoon is doing something that is counter to its own nature.
The eighth line of the poem reads, "Confer with every flower / That just began to be, / If your odor is their odor, / Then, till they're ripened unto thee, / They'll not betray thee." This line is a call to the cocoon to confer with the flowers and see if its odor is the same as theirs. The speaker is suggesting that the cocoon should seek out the advice of others who have undergone a similar transformation. This line also introduces the theme of community, as it suggests that the cocoon should seek out the support of others.
The ninth line of the poem reads, "Baffle every search / But the searcher's own, / When a sudden swerve / Confounds the eyes / And makes the doubled world / Indisputably there." This line is a commentary on the mystery and secrecy that surrounds the cocoon. The speaker is suggesting that the cocoon should baffle every search except for the searcher's own. This line also introduces the theme of perception, as it suggests that what we see may not always be what is actually there.
The tenth and final line of the poem reads, "Cocoon above! Cocoon below! / Stealthy Cocoon, why hide you so?" This line is a repetition of the first two lines of the poem. The use of repetition in this line emphasizes the importance of the cocoon in the life cycle of a butterfly, and the mystery and secrecy that surrounds it.
In conclusion, Cocoon above! Cocoon below! is a beautiful poem that explores the themes of transformation, sacrifice, secrecy, community, contradiction, and perception. The use of rhetorical questions, repetition, and imagery contribute to the overall meaning of the poem, which is a celebration of the natural cycle of life and death. Emily Dickinson's use of language and poetic devices makes this poem a timeless classic that continues to inspire and captivate readers today.
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