'The Love a Life can show Below' by Emily Dickinson

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The Love a Life can show Below
Is but a filament, I know,
Of that diviner thing
That faints upon the face of Noon-
And smites the Tinder in the Sun-
And hinders Gabriel's Wing-'Tis this-in Music-hints and sways-
And far abroad on Summer days-
Distils uncertain pain-
'Tis this enamors in the East-
And tints the Transit in the West
With harrowing Iodine-'Tis this-invites-appalls-endows-
Flits-glimmers-proves-dissolves-
Returns-suggests-convicts-enchants-
Then-flings in Paradise-

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Love a Life can show Below: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

by Emily Dickinson

Oh, Emily Dickinson, what a poet! Her use of language and imagery is unparalleled. And her poem "The Love a Life can show Below" is no exception. In this piece, Dickinson explores the concept of love and its power to shape our lives. Through her use of language and imagery, she paints a picture of love as a force that transcends time and space.

The Poem

Before diving into the analysis, let's take a closer look at the poem:

The Love a Life can show Below Is but a filament, I know, Of that diviner thing That faints upon the face of noon -- And smites the tinder in the sun -- And hinders Gabriel's wing.

'Tis this -- in music -- hints and sways -- And far abroad on summer days Distils uncertain pain -- 'Tis this enamors in the East -- And tints the transit in the West With harrowing Iodine --

'Tis this -- accosts in whispering tones When dusk prepares her crimson robes For unsuspecting eyes -- 'Tis this -- that murmurs in the sedge -- Nor all the storm -- nor all the sea Can put its music by --

The Analysis

At first glance, the poem seems to be about the limitations of human love. Dickinson acknowledges that the love we experience in our daily lives is merely a "filament" of something greater. But what is this "diviner thing" that she's referring to?

Through her use of vivid imagery, Dickinson suggests that this "diviner thing" is a force that is present in nature. She writes that it "faints upon the face of noon" and "smites the tinder in the sun" - both of which seem to be references to the power of the sun. The sun is a force that is beyond our control, a source of energy that sustains all life on earth.

Dickinson also suggests that this force is present in music. She writes that it "hints and sways" and "distils uncertain pain" - both of which could be interpreted as descriptions of the emotional power of music. Music has the ability to move us in ways that are beyond our control, to evoke feelings that we can't quite describe.

In the second stanza, Dickinson describes how this force "enamors in the East" and "tints the transit in the West with harrowing Iodine." These lines suggest that this force is present in the beauty of a sunset. The way the sun sets in the East and West creates a beautiful and striking image that is impossible to ignore.

Throughout the poem, Dickinson uses language that suggests that this force is beyond our control. She writes that it "accosts in whispering tones" and "murmurs in the sedge" - both of which suggest that this force is subtle and elusive. It's a force that is constantly present, but we can't quite grasp it.

Despite its elusiveness, Dickinson suggests that this force is incredibly powerful. She writes that "Nor all the storm -- nor all the sea/ Can put its music by." No matter how powerful the forces of nature are, they can't drown out the power of this force.

The Interpretation

So what does all of this mean?

One interpretation of the poem is that Dickinson is suggesting that love is a force that is beyond our control. It's something that we experience, but we can't quite explain or understand. It's a force that is present in the beauty of nature and the power of music.

Another interpretation is that Dickinson is suggesting that love is a force that transcends time and space. She writes that it "faints upon the face of noon" and "smites the tinder in the sun" - both of which suggest that this force is present everywhere, at all times.

Finally, Dickinson seems to be suggesting that this force is incredibly powerful. She writes that "Nor all the storm -- nor all the sea/ Can put its music by." No matter what forces of nature we encounter, love will always be more powerful.

Conclusion

In "The Love a Life can show Below," Emily Dickinson has created a beautiful and powerful poem that explores the nature of love. Through her use of language and imagery, Dickinson suggests that love is a force that is beyond our control, present in the beauty of nature and the power of music. She also suggests that love is a force that transcends time and space, and that it is incredibly powerful.

Overall, this poem is a testament to Dickinson's mastery of language and her ability to express complex ideas in a few short lines. It's a beautiful and haunting piece that will stay with the reader long after they've finished reading it.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry is a powerful medium that can evoke a range of emotions in its readers. One such poem that has stood the test of time is Emily Dickinson's "The Love a Life can show Below." This poem is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the nature of love and its ability to bring joy and meaning to our lives. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and literary devices used in this classic piece of poetry.

The poem begins with the line, "The Love a Life can show Below," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the word "love" is significant, as it is a universal emotion that everyone can relate to. The word "below" suggests that there is something beyond our earthly existence, which is a recurring theme in Dickinson's work.

The first stanza of the poem describes the love that we experience in our daily lives. Dickinson writes, "Is but a filament, I know, / Of that diviner thing / That faints upon the face of noon, / And smites the tinder in the sun." Here, she is suggesting that the love we experience in our everyday lives is only a small part of a much larger and more profound love that exists beyond our understanding. The use of the word "filament" suggests that this love is fragile and delicate, and can easily be broken.

The second stanza of the poem explores the idea that this love is not limited to our human experience. Dickinson writes, "And life is all we know of love, / And all we need of bliss." Here, she is suggesting that love is not just a human emotion, but something that exists throughout the universe. The use of the word "bliss" suggests that this love brings us happiness and fulfillment.

The third stanza of the poem explores the idea that this love is eternal. Dickinson writes, "The eternal life we antedate / In the great eternity, / Is that / Of Love." Here, she is suggesting that love is something that existed before our earthly existence and will continue to exist long after we are gone. The use of the word "antedate" suggests that love is something that has always been and always will be.

The fourth stanza of the poem explores the idea that this love is transformative. Dickinson writes, "Displayed to love, is but a glass / That fain its likeness would express; / But 'tis a vain / Endeavor." Here, she is suggesting that love has the power to transform us and make us better people. The use of the word "glass" suggests that our love is a reflection of the larger love that exists beyond us, but that we can never fully capture its essence.

The fifth and final stanza of the poem explores the idea that this love is something that we should strive for. Dickinson writes, "Love is anterior to life, / Posterior to death, / Initial of creation, and / The exponent of breath." Here, she is suggesting that love is something that is essential to our existence and that we should strive to cultivate it in our lives. The use of the word "anterior" suggests that love is something that comes before our earthly existence, while the use of the word "posterior" suggests that it will continue to exist after we are gone.

In terms of literary devices, Dickinson uses a number of techniques to convey her message. One of the most prominent is the use of imagery. Throughout the poem, she uses vivid and evocative imagery to paint a picture of the love that she is describing. For example, in the first stanza, she uses the image of a "filament" to describe the fragility of our earthly love. In the second stanza, she uses the image of "bliss" to describe the happiness that love brings us. And in the fourth stanza, she uses the image of a "glass" to describe the reflection of the larger love that exists beyond us.

Another literary device that Dickinson uses is repetition. Throughout the poem, she repeats the phrase "The Love a Life can show Below" to emphasize the importance of this love and its significance in our lives. This repetition also serves to unify the poem and give it a sense of cohesion.

In conclusion, Emily Dickinson's "The Love a Life can show Below" is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the nature of love and its ability to bring joy and meaning to our lives. Through her use of vivid imagery and repetition, she conveys a powerful message about the transformative and eternal nature of love. This poem is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to move and inspire us, even after more than a century has passed since its creation.

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