'I thought the Train would never come-' by Emily Dickinson
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I thought the Train would never come-
How slow the whistle sang-
I don't believe a peevish Bird
So whimpered for the Spring-
I taught my Heart a hundred times
Precisely what to say-
Provoking Lover, when you came
Its Treatise flew away
To hide my strategy too late
To wiser be too soon-
For miseries so halcyon
The happiness atone-
Editor 1 Interpretation
"I thought the Train would never come": A Deep Dive into Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem
Emily Dickinson is known for her unique poetic style and her ability to convey complex emotions through simple language. "I thought the Train would never come" is a perfect example of her artistry. This poem is deceptively simple at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it reveals a deep sense of longing and anticipation.
The Poem
Before we dive into the interpretation, let's first take a look at the poem itself:
I thought the Train would never come—
How slow the whistle sang—
I don’t believe a peevish train
Whose puffing wilted me—
Until in some forsaken lane
At every turn, are seen,
The rifling houses, from whose roofs
The Merry children lean—
In sneering way to notice me
They passed me by away—
To lady crossed the street—perhaps
To sip its dew, away—
The struggling lips—begun to smile,
Perhaps I kissed a Hand
Inadvertent,—as I passed—
For mightily suspect
I was most ignobly hid—
Blushing, I judge, for me—
And though I knew not what to do,
Nor meet, in all the Town—
Myself and Shame, were best acquainted—
And Conscience, turning round
Her spangled Top—sat down, serene
Beside the public Road—
The Interpretation
The poem begins with the speaker expressing their frustration at the slow arrival of a train. The "whistle" of the train is personified as singing, which is an interesting choice of words. This personification seems to indicate the speaker's eagerness to hear the sound of the train and their impatience with its delay.
The second stanza shifts the focus to the speaker's physical discomfort, caused by the heat and exhaust of the train. The personification of the train as "peevish" and "puffing" further emphasizes its negative impact on the speaker.
The third stanza introduces a new element: the speaker's surroundings. They find themselves in a "forsaken lane" where they can see the "rifling houses" and "Merry children lean." The contrast between the speaker's frustration and the children's carefree joy is stark, and it highlights the speaker's sense of isolation.
In the fourth stanza, the speaker describes how they are ignored by passersby. The children "sneer" at them, and a lady crosses the street "perhaps / To sip its dew, away." The use of the word "perhaps" here adds an element of uncertainty, and it suggests that the speaker is not entirely sure of the motives behind these actions.
The fifth stanza is where things start to get interesting. The speaker's "struggling lips" turn into a smile, and they "perhaps" kiss a hand as they pass by. The sudden shift in tone is unexpected, and it adds a layer of ambiguity to the poem. Who is the speaker kissing? Why are they suddenly smiling?
The sixth stanza only deepens the mystery. The speaker feels "ignobly hid" and "blushing," but they don't know why. They are acutely aware of their own shame, and they feel isolated from the rest of the town.
The final stanza brings a sense of closure to the poem. The speaker's conscience "sat down, serene / Beside the public Road." The use of the word "spangled" to describe the top of the conscience adds an element of beauty and wonder to the image. It suggests that even in the midst of shame and isolation, there is still something beautiful and pure within the speaker.
The Themes
So what does all of this mean? What themes can we draw from this poem?
One of the central themes of "I thought the Train would never come" is a sense of isolation and longing. The speaker is stuck in a forsaken lane, surrounded by rifling houses and sneering children. They are ignored by passersby and feel ashamed of their own presence. This sense of isolation and longing is compounded by the delay of the train, which the speaker is eagerly waiting for.
Another theme is the idea of ambiguity and uncertainty. The speaker is never quite sure of what is happening around them. They are not sure why the children are sneering at them, or why the lady crosses the street. The sudden shift in tone and the ambiguous nature of the speaker's actions only serve to deepen this sense of uncertainty.
A third theme is the idea of hidden beauty. Despite the speaker's shame and isolation, there is still something beautiful and pure within them. The image of the spangled top of the conscience suggests that even in the midst of darkness, there is still something shining and bright.
The Conclusion
"I thought the Train would never come" is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores themes of isolation, ambiguity, and hidden beauty. Emily Dickinson's unique poetic style is on full display here, with her use of personification, ambiguity, and sudden shifts in tone. This is a poem that rewards careful reading and contemplation, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who takes the time to dive into its depths.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions, thoughts, and feelings in the reader. Emily Dickinson's poem "I thought the Train would never come" is a classic example of how poetry can capture the essence of a moment and transport the reader to a different time and place. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve deep into the poem's meaning, structure, and literary devices to understand why it has stood the test of time and continues to resonate with readers today.
The poem begins with the speaker expressing their impatience and frustration at the train's delay. The first line, "I thought the Train would never come," sets the tone for the rest of the poem, conveying the speaker's sense of anticipation and anxiety. The use of the word "thought" suggests that the speaker has been waiting for a long time, and their patience is wearing thin. The repetition of the word "never" emphasizes the speaker's sense of hopelessness and despair.
As the poem progresses, the speaker's mood shifts from frustration to excitement as they hear the train's whistle in the distance. The second stanza begins with the line, "But stopless – then – appears – a train," which suggests that the train is unstoppable and powerful. The use of the word "appears" creates a sense of suddenness and surprise, as if the train has materialized out of nowhere. The speaker's excitement is palpable as they describe the train's arrival, using vivid imagery to convey its size and speed. The lines "Its iron – horses striding / So near / They seemed to pant" create a sense of movement and energy, as if the train is alive and breathing.
The third stanza is perhaps the most poignant in the poem, as the speaker reflects on the significance of the train's arrival. The line "The Stations – stared – approved" suggests that the train's arrival is a momentous event, one that is witnessed and celebrated by all. The use of the word "approved" implies that the train's arrival is a sign of progress and modernity, something to be admired and respected. The speaker's use of the word "we" in the line "We – passed the Fields of Gazing Grain" suggests that they are not alone in their excitement, but are part of a larger community that is united in its awe and wonder.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most enigmatic, as the speaker reflects on the train's departure and its impact on their life. The line "We passed the Setting Sun" suggests that the train's arrival and departure are part of a larger cycle of life and death, one that is beyond the speaker's control. The use of the word "passed" creates a sense of finality and closure, as if the train's departure marks the end of an era. The final lines of the poem, "Or rather – He passed Us – / The Dews drew quivering and chill –" create a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, as if the speaker is unsure of what the train's departure means for their future.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery and metaphor. The train is described as "iron-horses striding," which creates a sense of power and strength. The use of the word "striding" suggests that the train is moving with purpose and determination, as if it has a will of its own. The train's whistle is described as "a signal blown at night," which creates a sense of mystery and intrigue. The use of the word "signal" suggests that the train is communicating something important, something that the speaker is not privy to.
Another important literary device used in the poem is repetition. The repetition of the word "never" in the first line creates a sense of despair and hopelessness, emphasizing the speaker's impatience and frustration. The repetition of the word "passed" in the final stanza creates a sense of finality and closure, emphasizing the train's departure and its impact on the speaker's life.
The poem's structure is also worth noting. The poem consists of four stanzas, each with four lines. The use of quatrains creates a sense of symmetry and balance, emphasizing the poem's themes of order and control. The poem's rhyme scheme is also worth noting, as it follows an ABAB pattern. The use of rhyme creates a sense of musicality and rhythm, emphasizing the poem's themes of movement and energy.
In conclusion, Emily Dickinson's poem "I thought the Train would never come" is a classic example of how poetry can capture the essence of a moment and transport the reader to a different time and place. Through its use of vivid imagery, metaphor, repetition, and structure, the poem conveys the speaker's sense of anticipation, excitement, and reflection. The poem's themes of progress, modernity, and the cycle of life and death continue to resonate with readers today, making it a timeless classic of American literature.
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