'The Guest is gold and crimson' by Emily Dickinson


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The Guest is gold and crimson—
An Opal guest and gray—
Of Ermine is his doublet—
His Capuchin gay—

He reaches town at nightfall—
He stops at every door—
Who looks for him at morning
I pray him too—explore
The Lark's pure territory—
Or the Lapwing's shore!

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Guest is Gold and Crimson: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Emily Dickinson's poetry has transcended generations and cultures, and The Guest is Gold and Crimson is no exception. The poem stands as a testament to the poet's ability to capture emotions through precise and evocative language. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, structure, and language of the poem, and how they come together to create a rich and complex work of art.

The Themes of The Guest is Gold and Crimson

The Guest is Gold and Crimson is a poem that explores the themes of love, beauty, and mortality. These themes are closely intertwined and reflect the poet's perspective on life and death. The poem begins with the description of a guest who is "gold and crimson" and who brings "sumptuous reference" to the poet's life. The guest is a symbol of beauty and love, and his presence in the poet's life adds meaning and joy.

However, the poem takes a darker turn as the poet reflects on the fleeting nature of life. She writes, "And then he bore away, / I spied an ear in bloom / And a worm upon the rail, / And then I bowed low, / To my beautiful guest." Here, the ear in bloom and the worm on the rail symbolize the cycle of life and death. The poet realizes that just as the ear in bloom will wither away, so will the guest. The beauty and joy that the guest brought to her life are temporary, and she must accept the inevitability of mortality.

The poem ends with the lines, "He stayed with me a moment / And then he joined the Butterflies / For whose sake, then, he has traveled / I think he'd not refuse." These lines suggest that the guest has passed away and has joined the realm of the butterflies, which are often associated with the afterlife. The poet accepts this as a natural part of life and finds comfort in the thought that the guest has found peace in the afterlife.

The Structure of The Guest is Gold and Crimson

The structure of The Guest is Gold and Crimson is simple yet effective in conveying the themes of the poem. The poem consists of four stanzas, each with four lines. The first two stanzas describe the guest and his impact on the poet's life, while the third stanza introduces the theme of mortality. The final stanza brings a sense of closure to the poem, as the poet reflects on the guest's passing and finds comfort in the thought of the afterlife.

The use of enjambment in the poem adds to its fluidity and creates a sense of movement. For example, in the first stanza, the line "And he is gay at sunrise" flows seamlessly into the next line, "And when the sap is run." This creates a sense of continuity and suggests that the guest's presence in the poet's life is constant, even as the seasons change.

The Language of The Guest is Gold and Crimson

Emily Dickinson's use of language in The Guest is Gold and Crimson is precise and evocative. The use of color imagery, such as "gold and crimson," creates a vivid image of the guest and his impact on the poet's life. The use of metaphor, such as the ear in bloom and the worm on the rail, adds depth and complexity to the poem, as these images symbolize the cycle of life and death.

The repetition of the phrase "And then" throughout the poem creates a sense of progression and reflects the passage of time. The use of alliteration, such as "sumptuous reference," adds to the musicality of the poem and creates a sense of harmony.

Conclusion

The Guest is Gold and Crimson is a poem that explores the themes of love, beauty, and mortality through the use of precise and evocative language. The structure of the poem is simple yet effective in conveying these themes, while the use of color imagery, metaphor, repetition, and alliteration adds depth and complexity. Emily Dickinson's ability to capture emotions through language is on full display in this poem, and it stands as a testament to her enduring legacy as a poet.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Guest is gold and crimson - A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of all time, is known for her unique style of writing and her ability to convey deep emotions through her words. Her poem, "The Guest is gold and crimson," is a masterpiece that captures the essence of life and death in a way that only Dickinson could.

The poem begins with the line, "The Guest is gold and crimson," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the words "gold" and "crimson" creates a sense of richness and warmth, which is then contrasted with the idea of death that is introduced in the next line.

"The Guest was all in the yellow," Dickinson writes, referring to the color of the leaves that are falling from the trees. This line is significant because it represents the changing of the seasons and the cycle of life and death that is a natural part of it. The leaves, which were once green and full of life, are now yellow and dying, just as all living things must eventually come to an end.

The next line, "Like the leaves, the wind flung him," adds to the sense of movement and change that is present throughout the poem. The wind, which is often associated with change and transformation, is carrying the Guest away, just as it carries the leaves away from the trees.

As the poem continues, Dickinson explores the idea of death and what it means for those who are left behind. She writes, "He sped as if 'twere Tam o' Shanter," referring to the Scottish poem by Robert Burns about a man who rides his horse through a storm to escape from witches. This line suggests that the Guest is in a hurry to leave, just as Tam o' Shanter was in a hurry to escape from danger.

The next line, "But all the hills surveyed," is significant because it suggests that even though the Guest is leaving, the world around him is still there, and life goes on. The hills, which are a symbol of stability and permanence, are still there, even though the Guest is gone.

The final lines of the poem, "And only Centuries fled before/ Roomier for the play," are perhaps the most significant. They suggest that even though the Guest is gone, life goes on, and there is always room for new experiences and new beginnings. The idea of "roomier for the play" suggests that life is a game, and there is always more room to play and explore.

Overall, "The Guest is gold and crimson" is a masterpiece that captures the essence of life and death in a way that only Emily Dickinson could. Through her use of rich imagery and powerful language, she creates a sense of movement and change that is both beautiful and haunting. The poem reminds us that even though death is a natural part of life, there is always room for new beginnings and new experiences.

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