'Had we our senses' by Emily Dickinson

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Had we our senses
But perhaps 'tis well they're not at Home
So intimate with Madness
He's liable with themHad we the eyes without our Head-
How well that we are Blind-
We could not look upon the Earth-
So utterly unmoved-

Editor 1 Interpretation

Had we our senses by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Emily Dickinson is one of the most renowned and celebrated poets of all time. Her works are studied, analyzed, and interpreted by scholars and students alike. One of her most intriguing and thought-provoking poems is "Had we our senses," which explores the nature of perception, imagination, and reality.

Poem Analysis

The poem consists of a single stanza with four lines that follow an ABAB rhyme scheme. The poem's opening line, "Had we our senses / But perhaps 'tis well they're not at home," immediately sets the poem's tone and theme. The speaker suggests that if we had all our senses, we might not be able to cope with the world's harsh reality.

The poem's second line, "So intimate with pain," suggests that pain is a fundamental aspect of human existence. The phrase "intimate with pain" implies that pain is not an external force but an integral part of our being. The line also suggests that we are intimately connected to the pain of others, even if we are not experiencing it ourselves.

The third line, "Since they got worn," suggests that our senses have been dulled or worn down by the trials and tribulations of life. The phrase "got worn" implies that our senses were once sharp and acute but have become blunted over time.

The poem's final line, "What falls upon the mind / Ourselves endure," encapsulates the poem's central message. The line suggests that we are responsible for the thoughts and perceptions that shape our reality. We must endure the consequences of our thoughts and actions, just as we must endure the pain that comes with being alive.

Interpretation

The poem's title, "Had we our senses," suggests that the speaker is imagining a world where we have all our senses intact. The phrase "had we" implies that this world does not exist, and the speaker is engaging in a flight of fancy. The poem's opening line, "But perhaps 'tis well they're not at home," suggests that the speaker is ambivalent about the prospect of having all our senses.

The phrase "perhaps 'tis well" implies that the speaker is uncertain about the benefits and drawbacks of having all our senses. The phrase "not at home" suggests that our senses are absent or missing, implying that we are incomplete without them.

The line "So intimate with pain" suggests that pain is an essential part of human existence. The phrase "intimate with pain" implies that we cannot separate ourselves from pain, meaning that it is an integral part of our being. The line also suggests that we are intimately connected to the pain of others, even if we do not experience it ourselves.

The phrase "Since they got worn" suggests that our senses have become dulled or worn down by the trials and tribulations of life. The phrase "got worn" implies that our senses were once sharp and acute, but they have become blunted over time. The line also suggests that our senses are subject to wear and tear, just like any other aspect of our being.

The final line, "What falls upon the mind / Ourselves endure," encapsulates the poem's central message. The line suggests that we are responsible for the thoughts and perceptions that shape our reality. The phrase "what falls upon the mind" implies that our thoughts are not entirely under our control, but we are still responsible for them. The line also suggests that we must endure the consequences of our thoughts and actions, just as we must endure the pain that comes with being alive.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Had we our senses" is a thought-provoking poem that explores the nature of perception, imagination, and reality. The poem suggests that pain is an essential part of human existence, and we are intimately connected to the pain of others. The poem also suggests that our senses have become dulled or worn down by the trials and tribulations of life, and we are responsible for the thoughts and perceptions that shape our reality.

Emily Dickinson's use of language and imagery is intricate and profound, leaving the reader with much to contemplate. Ultimately, the poem is a meditation on the human experience, reminding us that pain, suffering, and uncertainty are an integral part of our existence. Despite this, we must continue to endure and strive for a greater understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions and stir the soul. Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of all time, has left behind a legacy of poems that continue to inspire and move readers to this day. One such poem is "Had we our senses," a beautiful piece that explores the idea of perception and the limitations of the human mind.

The poem begins with the line, "Had we our senses," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. Dickinson is suggesting that there is something missing in the human experience, something that prevents us from fully understanding the world around us. She goes on to say that if we had our senses, we would be able to see things that are currently invisible to us.

The second stanza of the poem is particularly powerful, as Dickinson describes the things that we would be able to see if we had our senses. She writes, "The hillsides shine gayer, / The forests dimmer grow; / We are not sure they are not there, / We do not seem to know." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that there is a whole world of beauty and wonder that we are missing out on because of our limited perception. The hillsides and forests are already beautiful, but if we had our senses, they would be even more vibrant and alive.

In the third stanza, Dickinson takes a darker turn, as she describes the things that we would be able to see if we had our senses. She writes, "The ballasts of the mind / That weigh like ships at sea, / Are lightly loaded when they lie / In port tranquility." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that our minds are burdened by the weight of our limited perception, and that if we were able to see more, we would be able to free ourselves from this burden.

The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as Dickinson suggests that the limitations of our perception are not just a physical limitation, but a spiritual one as well. She writes, "Had we the eyes without our head, / How well that we might see! / Had we the ear without the soul, / It were not sound to me." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that even if we were able to see and hear more, it would not necessarily lead to a deeper understanding of the world around us. It is only through the soul that we can truly comprehend the beauty and wonder of the world.

Overall, "Had we our senses" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the limitations of the human mind and the beauty that we are missing out on because of those limitations. Dickinson's use of language is particularly striking, as she paints vivid pictures of the world that we could see if we were able to perceive more. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to inspire and move us, and a reminder that there is always more to the world than what we can see with our limited senses.

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