'Consulting summer's clock' by Emily Dickinson

AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay

The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson????1715Consulting summer's clock,
But half the hours remain.
I ascertain it with a shock-
I shall not look again.
The second half of joy
Is shorter than the first.
The truth I do not dare to know
I muffle with a jest.

Editor 1 Interpretation

A Closer Look at "Consulting Summer's Clock" by Emily Dickinson

If you're a fan of Emily Dickinson's poetry, you'll know that her work often deals with themes of mortality, nature, and the passage of time. "Consulting Summer's Clock" is no exception. This poem is a meditation on the fleeting nature of summer, and how it serves as a reminder of our own mortality.

The Poem Itself

Before we dive into the interpretation of "Consulting Summer's Clock," let's take a look at the poem itself:

The clock struck midnight,
And through my pane
Wandered a sound, like some sweet strain,
And vague and far,
As if a star
Had touched its silver bow again.

But as I turned,
It faded slow,
And on my ear
Rolled waves of woe,
So long and deep,
That I forgot
The hour that sang,
And stars that set.

At first glance, the poem appears to be fairly straightforward. The speaker is sitting indoors, listening to the clock strike midnight. They hear a sound outside, which they describe as "sweet" and "vague." The sound seems to come from a star, or at least from something celestial. However, as the speaker turns to investigate the sound, it fades away, leaving them with a sense of sadness and loss.

The Themes of Summer and Time

One of the most prominent themes in "Consulting Summer's Clock" is the passage of time. The clock striking midnight is the central event of the poem, and it serves as a reminder that time is constantly moving forward. Additionally, the mention of stars and celestial bodies underscores the idea that time is linked to the movements of the cosmos.

Another important theme in the poem is the fleeting nature of summer. Summer is traditionally associated with warmth, light, and life. However, it is also a season that is all too brief. The speaker's sense of loss and sadness at the end of the poem can be seen as a reflection of the impermanence of summer, and by extension, of life itself.

The Sound of the Poem

One of the most striking things about "Consulting Summer's Clock" is its use of sound. The poem is full of alliteration ("rolled waves of woe"), internal rhyme ("vague and far"), and assonance ("touched its silver bow"). The use of these devices creates a musical quality to the poem, which is appropriate given the celestial themes of the piece.

Additionally, the poem's use of repetition is noteworthy. The phrase "and stars that set" is repeated twice, emphasizing the idea of the passage of time and the transience of life. The repetition of the word "so" in the line "So long and deep" emphasizes the depth of the speaker's sadness and loss.

The "I" of the Poem

As with many of Dickinson's poems, it can be difficult to determine who the speaker of "Consulting Summer's Clock" is meant to be. Is the "I" of the poem meant to be Dickinson herself? Or is it a fictional character created for the purposes of the poem?

Regardless of who the speaker is, it's clear that they are deeply affected by the sound they hear. The phrase "waves of woe" suggests that the sound is not just a passing curiosity, but instead something that has a profound emotional impact on the speaker.

The Symbolism of the Star

The star that is mentioned in the poem is an important symbol. Stars are often associated with eternity and the infinite, as they are far beyond our reach and seem to exist outside of time. The idea of a star "touching its silver bow" suggests that the sound the speaker hears is something that is beyond our mortal world.

However, the star can also be seen as a symbol of hope. The fact that it is described as "sweet" suggests that it is a positive force, and the fact that it touches its "silver bow" suggests that it is a source of beauty as well.

Conclusion

"Consulting Summer's Clock" is a poem that is rich with symbolism and meaning. It explores themes of time, mortality, and the transience of life, all through the lens of a single moment when the clock strikes midnight. The poem's use of sound and repetition creates a musical quality that underscores the celestial themes of the piece. Ultimately, the poem leaves us with a sense of loss and sadness, but also with a glimmer of hope and beauty.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Emily Dickinson’s “Summer’s Clock” is a classic poem that captures the essence of summer and the fleeting nature of time. The poem is a beautiful representation of the natural world and the way it changes with the seasons. It is a celebration of life and a reminder that time waits for no one.

The poem begins with the line “The clock struck summer,” which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The clock is a symbol of time, and the fact that it has struck summer suggests that time is moving forward, and summer is here. The use of the word “struck” is also significant as it implies a sudden and forceful action, which is fitting for the arrival of summer.

The next line, “as if it had struck a flower,” is a beautiful metaphor that compares the arrival of summer to the blooming of a flower. The use of this metaphor is significant as it highlights the beauty and fragility of summer. Just as a flower can bloom and wither quickly, so too can summer come and go in the blink of an eye.

The poem then goes on to describe the natural world in summer. Dickinson writes, “And in the startled ear of night / A cricket, harrowing cheerfully.” This line is a beautiful example of personification, as it gives the cricket human-like qualities. The use of the word “startled” suggests that the night is surprised by the arrival of summer, and the cricket’s cheerful song adds to the celebratory tone of the poem.

The next few lines describe the natural world in more detail, with Dickinson writing, “The sprawling fields, crickets’ song, / Midnight’s fountains, bright unslumbering / Birds, the dew like pearl.” These lines are a beautiful example of imagery, as they paint a vivid picture of the natural world in summer. The use of words like “sprawling,” “bright,” and “pearl” all add to the beauty and vibrancy of the scene.

The poem then takes a darker turn, with Dickinson writing, “Everything that exists, adores / Nature, and her maker, but only / A prosaic man.” This line is a commentary on the way humans often take the natural world for granted. The use of the word “prosaic” suggests that humans are dull and uninteresting compared to the beauty of nature.

The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most significant, with Dickinson writing, “Summer’s empty room / Is full of ticking sounds.” This line is a beautiful metaphor that compares the passing of time to the ticking of a clock. The use of the word “empty” suggests that summer is fleeting and will soon be gone, but the ticking sounds remind us that time is always moving forward.

In conclusion, Emily Dickinson’s “Summer’s Clock” is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of summer and the fleeting nature of time. The use of metaphors, personification, and imagery all add to the beauty and vibrancy of the scene, while the commentary on the way humans often take the natural world for granted adds a deeper layer of meaning to the poem. Overall, “Summer’s Clock” is a timeless piece of poetry that celebrates life and reminds us to cherish every moment.

Editor Recommended Sites

Privacy Dating: Privacy focused dating, limited profile sharing and discussion
Prompt Catalog: Catalog of prompts for specific use cases. For chatGPT, bard / palm, llama alpaca models
Best Online Courses - OCW online free university & Free College Courses: The best online courses online. Free education online & Free university online
Learn Machine Learning: Machine learning and large language model training courses and getting started training guides
Learn GPT: Learn large language models and local fine tuning for enterprise applications

Recommended Similar Analysis

Endymion: Book II by John Keats analysis
During Wind and Rain by Thomas Hardy analysis
To You by Walt Whitman analysis
What the Shepherd Saw by Thomas Hardy analysis
Not Ideas About The Thing But The Thing Itself by Wallace Stevens analysis
First Fig by Edna St. Vincent Millay analysis
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth analysis
To my Dear and Loving Husband by Anne Bradstreet analysis
The Destruction Of Sennacherib by Lord Byron analysis
Childless Father, The by William Wordsworth analysis