''Tis not the swaying frame we miss' by Emily Dickinson
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'Tis not the swaying frame we miss,
It is the steadfast Heart,
That had it beat a thousand years,
With Love alone had bent,
Its fervor the electric Oar,
That bore it through the Tomb,
Ourselves, denied the privilege,
Consolelessly presume—
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Tis not the swaying frame we miss" - A Literary Criticism
Has there ever been a poet as enigmatic and elusive as Emily Dickinson? Her poems are a riddle wrapped in a mystery, an invitation to explore the innermost recesses of the human soul. "Tis not the swaying frame we miss" is one of her most haunting poems, an ode to the fleeting nature of life and the inevitable march of time. In this literary criticism, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of this classic poem, and try to unravel its secrets.
The Theme of Death
One of the most striking aspects of "Tis not the swaying frame we miss" is its preoccupation with death. From the very first line, we are confronted with the image of a funeral procession: "Tis not the swaying frame we miss, / It is not the casket nor the grave." The speaker tells us that the physical body of the deceased is not what we mourn, but rather their spirit, their essence. This is a common theme in Dickinson's poetry, and one that she explored in countless other poems. Death, for her, was not an end, but a transition, a journey from the earthly plane to the spiritual realm.
The Imagery of Nature
Another prominent feature of "Tis not the swaying frame we miss" is its rich imagery of nature. Dickinson was a keen observer of the natural world, and she often used it as a metaphor for human emotions and experiences. In this poem, she uses images of the ocean, the sky, and the wind to convey the sense of impermanence and transience that is at the heart of the poem. The ocean, with its endless waves and tides, represents the ceaseless flow of time, while the sky and the wind suggest the vastness and intangibility of the spiritual realm.
The Language of Mysticism
One of the hallmarks of Dickinson's poetry is her use of language that is at once simple and profound, direct and elusive. In "Tis not the swaying frame we miss," she employs a language of mysticism, drawing on religious and spiritual motifs to convey her message. Words like "eternal," "infinite," and "angelic" evoke a sense of otherworldliness and transcendence, while phrases like "the dawn of the soul" and "the spiritual sign" suggest a deeper, more profound understanding of the human experience.
The Interpretation of the Poem
So what can we make of this enigmatic poem? What is Dickinson trying to tell us? At its core, "Tis not the swaying frame we miss" is a meditation on the nature of life and death, and the human longing for immortality. The speaker is urging us to look beyond the physical world and to seek out the eternal and infinite aspects of our being. She is reminding us that death is not the end, but a transition, a doorway to a higher form of existence.
But there is also a sense of loss and sorrow in the poem, a recognition that the physical body and the earthly realm have a beauty and a value of their own. The final lines of the poem, "The angelic convoy rolls, / It is the signal we have seen," suggest a sense of closure and acceptance, but also a sense of longing and sadness for what has been lost.
Conclusion
"Tis not the swaying frame we miss" is a masterpiece of poetic ambiguity and complexity. It is a poem that invites us to explore the deepest mysteries of the human experience, to contemplate the nature of life and death, and to seek out the eternal and infinite aspects of our being. Through its rich imagery, its language of mysticism, and its profound themes, this poem continues to enchant and inspire readers today, more than a century after it was written.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
‘Tis not the swaying frame we miss’ is a classic poem written by the renowned American poet, Emily Dickinson. This poem is a beautiful representation of the poet’s unique style of writing, which is characterized by its brevity, unconventional punctuation, and the use of metaphors and symbolism. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its meaning, themes, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the line, ‘’Tis not the swaying frame we miss’’. This line immediately captures the reader’s attention, as it is not clear what the poet is referring to. However, as we read on, it becomes clear that the poet is talking about death. The ‘swaying frame’ refers to the physical body, which is often depicted as a frame or a vessel that holds the soul. The poet is saying that it is not the physical body that we miss when someone dies, but something else.
The second line of the poem reads, ‘It is not the figure we regret’. Here, the poet is emphasizing that it is not the physical appearance of the person that we miss, but something deeper. The use of the word ‘regret’ is also significant, as it suggests that the poet is talking about a feeling of loss or sadness that we experience when someone dies.
The third line of the poem reads, ‘It is not the stirring heart, as once it stirred, of yore’. Here, the poet is referring to the emotional connection that we have with the person who has died. The ‘stirring heart’ represents the emotions that we feel when we are with the person, and the poet is saying that we do not miss these emotions as they once were.
The fourth line of the poem reads, ‘The soul that animates the clay, that is forevermore’. This line is perhaps the most significant in the poem, as it reveals the true meaning of the poem. The ‘soul’ represents the essence of the person, the part of them that is eternal and lives on after death. The use of the word ‘animates’ is also significant, as it suggests that the soul is what gives life to the physical body.
The final line of the poem reads, ‘It is what the heart can never say, that is forevermore’. This line is a beautiful conclusion to the poem, as it emphasizes the idea that there are some things that cannot be expressed in words. The ‘heart’ represents the emotions and feelings that we have for the person who has died, and the poet is saying that these feelings are too deep and complex to be put into words. The use of the word ‘forevermore’ is also significant, as it suggests that these feelings will never fade away.
Overall, ‘Tis not the swaying frame we miss’ is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the idea of death and the emotions that we feel when someone dies. The poem is characterized by its use of metaphors and symbolism, which add depth and complexity to the meaning of the poem. The poem is also notable for its brevity and unconventional punctuation, which are hallmarks of Emily Dickinson’s unique style of writing.
One of the themes that can be found in this poem is the idea of the eternal soul. The poet is suggesting that the physical body may die, but the soul lives on forever. This idea is a common theme in many religions and spiritual beliefs, and it adds a sense of comfort and hope to the poem.
Another theme that can be found in this poem is the idea of the complexity of human emotions. The poet is suggesting that there are some emotions that are too deep and complex to be put into words. This idea is particularly relevant when it comes to grief and loss, as these emotions are often difficult to express.
In terms of literary devices, ‘Tis not the swaying frame we miss’ is notable for its use of metaphors and symbolism. The ‘swaying frame’ represents the physical body, while the ‘soul’ represents the eternal essence of the person. The use of the word ‘regret’ also adds a sense of sadness and loss to the poem.
The poem is also notable for its brevity and unconventional punctuation. The use of dashes and capitalization is a hallmark of Emily Dickinson’s unique style of writing, and it adds a sense of rhythm and flow to the poem.
In conclusion, ‘Tis not the swaying frame we miss’ is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the idea of death and the emotions that we feel when someone dies. The poem is characterized by its use of metaphors and symbolism, which add depth and complexity to the meaning of the poem. The poem is also notable for its brevity and unconventional punctuation, which are hallmarks of Emily Dickinson’s unique style of writing. Overall, this poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture complex emotions and ideas in a few short lines.
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