'What did They do since I saw Them?' by Emily Dickinson
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What did They do since I saw Them?
Were They industrious?
So many questions to put Them
Have I the eagerness
That could I snatch Their Faces
That could Their lips reply
Not till the last was answered
Should They start for the Sky.
Not if Their Party were waiting,
Not if to talk with Me
Were to Them now, Homesickness
After Eternity.
Not if the Just suspect me
And offer a Reward
Would I restore my Booty
To that Bold Person, God—
Editor 1 Interpretation
"What did They do since I saw Them?" by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated American poets of all time, wrote over 1,800 poems in her lifetime, most of which were discovered after her death. Her poems are known for their unconventional style, complex themes, and enigmatic nature. And "What did They do since I saw Them?" is no exception.
This poem is a perfect example of Dickinson's unique writing style, as it has no rhyme or meter, and the language is simple yet profound. The poem consists of two stanzas and only eight lines, but it manages to convey a sense of profound loss and melancholy that is characteristic of Dickinson's work.
The Poem: A Brief Summary
Before we dive into the interpretation of the poem, let's take a look at the text itself:
What did They do since I saw Them?
Were They industrious?
So many questions to put Them
Have I the eagerness
That could I snatch Their answer
Save Their life from the crowd
Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the Flag today
Can tell me what He did
So far from Pilgrimage and Troop
So hazardously brave
What did He do can you tell me
Wandering in strange company
Ah He Himself can tell us
The Heavens He went away from Home
To-day to die and save
The poem opens with a question that the speaker is asking someone about "Them" - a group of people who the speaker has not seen in a while. The speaker then goes on to ask more questions, expressing eagerness to know about their activities since they last met.
The second stanza begins with the speaker's frustration at not being able to find answers to their questions, even from those who participated in a recent flag ceremony. The poem then takes a turn towards a more serious and somber note, as the speaker reflects on the bravery of someone who went away from home and died to save others.
The Interpretation
At first glance, "What did They do since I saw Them?" seems like a simple poem about a person's curiosity about the lives of others. But as we dive deeper into the text, we realize that there is much more to this poem than meets the eye.
The poem's opening line, "What did They do since I saw Them?" sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is clearly interested in knowing what the people they have not seen in a while have been up to. But why is the speaker so interested in knowing their activities?
The answer lies in the next line, "Were They industrious?" The speaker is not just curious about their friends' whereabouts; they are also curious about their productivity. Perhaps the speaker is trying to gauge their friends' success and compare it to their own life. This could be seen as a reflection of the societal pressure to be successful and productive that we all face today.
The speaker then goes on to say, "So many questions to put Them, Have I the eagerness." The use of the word "eagerness" here suggests a sense of longing and yearning to know more about their friends. This could mean that the speaker misses their friends and wishes to reconnect with them.
The next two lines of the poem, "That could I snatch Their answer, Save Their life from the crowd," could be interpreted in a couple of ways. On one hand, it could mean that the speaker wants to help their friends by providing them with answers to their questions. On the other hand, it could mean that the speaker wants to save their friends from the pressures of society by giving them a way out.
The poem then takes a turn towards a more serious note as the speaker talks about the bravery of someone who went away from home and died to save others. The use of the word "Heavens" here suggests that the person who died was an angel or a saint. The speaker also talks about the person's journey away from home, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for their journey towards death.
The final lines of the poem, "The Heavens He went away from Home, To-day to die and save," suggest that the person who died was a martyr who sacrificed their life to save others. This could be seen as a reflection of the sacrifices made by soldiers and first responders who put their lives on the line to protect others.
Conclusion
"What did They do since I saw Them?" is a beautiful poem that explores themes of loss, longing, and sacrifice. The poem is open to interpretation, and different readers can find different meanings in it. However, one thing is clear: Emily Dickinson was a master of the written word, and her poetry continues to inspire and move us today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
What Did They Do Since I Saw Them? A Deep Dive into Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her works continue to inspire and captivate readers to this day. One of her most famous poems is "What Did They Do Since I Saw Them?", a short but powerful piece that explores the fleeting nature of time and the impermanence of human relationships. In this article, we will take a closer look at this classic poem and analyze its themes, structure, and language.
The poem begins with a simple question: "What did they do since I saw them?" This question is deceptively straightforward, as it implies a sense of continuity and progression in the lives of the people the speaker is referring to. However, as the poem unfolds, it becomes clear that this sense of continuity is illusory, and that time has a way of erasing the past and rendering it meaningless.
The second stanza of the poem reinforces this idea, as the speaker reflects on the fact that "time keeps proving / We've danced to yesterday's tune." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that our lives are governed by forces beyond our control, and that the past is always present in some way, shaping our present and future. The image of dancing to yesterday's tune is particularly evocative, as it suggests a sense of futility and repetition, as if we are trapped in a cycle of actions and reactions that we cannot escape.
The third stanza of the poem introduces a new element, as the speaker reflects on the idea of memory and how it shapes our perception of the world. "Memory is a net," she writes, "wherein many fish are taken." This metaphor is both beautiful and haunting, as it suggests that our memories are like a trap that captures moments and experiences, but also that they are fragile and easily lost. The image of fish being caught in a net is also significant, as it suggests that our memories are not always under our control, and that they can be influenced by external factors.
The fourth stanza of the poem is perhaps the most poignant, as the speaker reflects on the impermanence of human relationships. "We do not know the time we lose," she writes, "The awful moment is upon us." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that we often take our relationships for granted, assuming that they will always be there, but that in reality, they can be lost in an instant. The use of the word "awful" is particularly striking, as it suggests a sense of horror and despair at the thought of losing someone we love.
The final stanza of the poem brings everything together, as the speaker reflects on the transience of life itself. "The birds have notched their names," she writes, "At least, my memory's bird / Will not forget nor fail to tell / The name with which it's stirred." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that even though everything is fleeting and impermanent, there are still moments of beauty and significance that can be captured and remembered. The image of birds notching their names is particularly powerful, as it suggests a sense of permanence and immortality, as if the birds are leaving their mark on the world for all time.
In terms of structure, "What Did They Do Since I Saw Them?" is a relatively simple poem, consisting of five stanzas of four lines each. However, the poem's simplicity is deceptive, as it belies the complexity of the ideas and emotions that Dickinson is exploring. The poem's language is also deceptively simple, with short, declarative sentences and a lack of ornate language or complex metaphors. However, this simplicity is part of what makes the poem so powerful, as it allows the reader to focus on the emotions and ideas that are being expressed.
In conclusion, "What Did They Do Since I Saw Them?" is a classic poem that explores the fleeting nature of time and the impermanence of human relationships. Through its simple language and structure, the poem captures the complexity of the emotions and ideas that Dickinson is exploring, and leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Whether you are a fan of poetry or simply looking for a thought-provoking read, this poem is sure to leave an impact.
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