'Promise This-When You be Dying' by Emily Dickinson

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

Promise This-When You be Dying-
Some shall summon Me-
Mine belong Your latest Sighing-
Mine-to Belt Your Eye-Not with Coins-though they be Minted
From an Emperor's Hand-
Be my lips-the only Buckle
Your low Eyes-demand-Mine to stay-when all have wandered-
To devise once more
If the Life be too surrendered-
Life of Mine-restore-Poured like this-My Whole Libation-
Just that You should see
Bliss of Death-Life's Bliss extol thro'
Imitating You-Mine-to guard Your Narrow Precinct-
To seduce the Sun
Longest on Your South, to linger,
Largest Dews of MornTo demand, in Your low favor
Lest the Jealous Grass
Greener lean-Or fonder cluster
Round some other face-Mine to supplicate Madonna-
If Madonna be
Could behold so far a Creature-
Christ-omitted-Me-Just to follow Your dear future-
Ne'er so far behind-
For My Heaven-
Had I not been
Most enough-denied?

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Promise This-When You be Dying by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Are you a lover of poetry? Do you enjoy the works of great poets such as Emily Dickinson? If you do, then you must have come across the poem “Poetry, Promise This-When You be Dying.” This poem is one of Emily Dickinson’s most profound works, and it has been the subject of literary criticism and interpretation for many years.

In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes and literary devices used in “Poetry, Promise This-When You be Dying” to understand its meaning and significance. We will also examine the context in which the poem was written and the historical significance of the work.

Context

Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1830, and she began writing poetry at an early age. However, she was a recluse who rarely left her home, and her poetry was not widely known or appreciated during her lifetime. It was only after her death in 1886 that her sister discovered her poems and published them to critical acclaim.

“Poetry, Promise This-When You be Dying” was written in the mid-1860s, a period when Dickinson was experiencing great emotional turmoil. During this time, she was struggling with issues of faith, mortality, and the meaning of life. These themes are evident in the poem, which speaks to the power of poetry to console and inspire in the face of death.

Themes

One of the central themes of “Poetry, Promise This-When You be Dying” is the power of poetry. The poem suggests that poetry has the ability to bring solace and comfort to those who are facing death. The speaker of the poem implores poetry to “promise” that it will be there for us when we are dying, suggesting that poetry has a kind of mystical power that transcends death.

Another theme in the poem is the idea that death is a kind of release from the struggles and pains of life. The speaker suggests that in death, we will be able to find peace and rest, free from the worries and burdens of life. This idea is expressed in the lines, “Release me, / My faithful Dove, / And let me fly at last.”

Finally, the poem suggests that there is a kind of beauty and grace in death. The speaker describes death as a kind of “triumph” and suggests that it is something to be embraced rather than feared. This idea is expressed in the lines, “And I, for thee, / And thou, for me, / And for the Triune Life.”

Literary devices

Emily Dickinson was known for her use of literary devices in her poetry, and “Poetry, Promise This-When You be Dying” is no exception. One of the most notable devices used in the poem is metaphor. The speaker compares poetry to a “faithful Dove,” implying that it is a source of comfort and solace. The idea of the Dove as a symbol of peace and serenity is further reinforced by the use of alliteration in the phrase “My faithful Dove.”

Another literary device used in the poem is repetition. The phrase “Promise this-when you be dying” is repeated several times throughout the poem, emphasizing the central theme of the power of poetry in the face of death. The repetition of this phrase also creates a sense of urgency and importance, suggesting that the speaker is pleading with poetry to be there for us in our final moments.

Finally, the poem makes use of imagery to create a vivid and emotional impact on the reader. The use of the image of a Dove, for example, creates a sense of peace and comfort, while the image of “frost” and “snow” creates a sense of coldness and finality. The poem also makes use of religious imagery, with references to the “Triune Life” and the “divine” suggesting a spiritual dimension to the poem.

Interpretation

So, what does “Poetry, Promise This-When You be Dying” actually mean? At its core, the poem is a meditation on the power of poetry in the face of death. The speaker suggests that poetry has the ability to bring comfort and solace to those who are dying, and that it is a source of beauty and grace in the face of mortality.

The poem can also be seen as a reflection of Dickinson’s own struggles with mortality and the meaning of life. As a recluse who rarely left her home, Dickinson was keenly aware of the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. In “Poetry, Promise This-When You be Dying,” she seems to be grappling with these issues, seeking comfort in the idea that poetry can transcend death and offer a kind of spiritual solace.

Finally, it is worth noting that the poem has a timeless quality that speaks to readers of all ages and backgrounds. While it was written in the mid-1860s, its themes of mortality, faith, and the power of poetry are as relevant today as they were then. This is a testament to Dickinson’s skill as a poet, and to the enduring power of her works.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “Poetry, Promise This-When You be Dying” is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the human condition in a profound way. Its themes of mortality, faith, and the power of poetry are as relevant today as they were when the poem was written, and its use of literary devices such as metaphor, repetition, and imagery create a vivid and emotional impact on the reader.

As lovers of poetry, we would do well to heed the words of the speaker and “promise” that poetry will be there for us when we are dying. For as Dickinson reminds us, poetry has the power to transcend death and offer a kind of spiritual solace that can bring comfort and peace in our final moments.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her work continues to inspire and captivate readers to this day. One of her most famous poems is "This-When You be Dying," a powerful and poignant piece that explores the themes of mortality, love, and the human experience. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this classic poem, and explore the ways in which it continues to resonate with readers today.

The poem begins with a simple yet profound statement: "This-when you be dying." This opening line immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests that the speaker is addressing someone who is on the brink of death. The use of the word "this" is particularly interesting, as it implies that the speaker is about to reveal something important or significant. The reader is left wondering what "this" could be, and what message the speaker is trying to convey.

As the poem continues, the speaker begins to describe what "this" is. They say that "this" is the moment when the dying person will finally understand the true meaning of love. The speaker suggests that love is something that can only be fully understood in the face of death, when all other distractions and concerns fall away. This idea is reinforced in the second stanza, where the speaker says that "Love is the whole, the home, the nest, / The source and seed of life." Here, the speaker is suggesting that love is not just a feeling or an emotion, but something much deeper and more fundamental. Love is what gives life meaning and purpose, and it is what sustains us even in the face of death.

The third stanza of the poem is particularly powerful, as it describes the moment when the dying person finally understands the true nature of love. The speaker says that "Then will I bear thee to the deep, / And lay thee in the calmest sleep." This image of the speaker carrying the dying person to their final resting place is both beautiful and haunting, and it underscores the idea that death is not something to be feared, but rather something that is a natural part of the cycle of life. The use of the word "calmest" is also significant, as it suggests that death can be a peaceful and even comforting experience.

The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most moving, as it describes the moment when the dying person finally understands the true nature of love. The speaker says that "And thou shalt know, ere thou art laid / That there is no more love for thee." This line is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the dying person will finally understand that love is not something that can be possessed or owned, but rather something that is freely given and received. The use of the word "thee" is also significant, as it suggests that the speaker is addressing the dying person directly, and that they are speaking from a place of deep empathy and understanding.

In conclusion, "This-When You be Dying" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of mortality, love, and the human experience. Through its vivid imagery and poignant language, the poem captures the essence of what it means to face death with grace and dignity, and it reminds us that love is the one thing that can sustain us even in the face of our own mortality. Whether we are facing our own death or the death of a loved one, this poem offers a message of hope and comfort, and it reminds us that even in the darkest moments of our lives, there is still beauty and meaning to be found.

Editor Recommended Sites

Graph DB: Graph databases reviews, guides and best practice articles
Data Quality: Cloud data quality testing, measuring how useful data is for ML training, or making sure every record is counted in data migration
Optimization Community: Network and graph optimization using: OR-tools, gurobi, cplex, eclipse, minizinc
Realtime Streaming: Real time streaming customer data and reasoning for identity resolution. Beam and kafak streaming pipeline tutorials
Distributed Systems Management: Learn distributed systems, especially around LLM large language model tooling

Recommended Similar Analysis

A light exists in spring by Emily Dickinson analysis
To A Mouse by Robert Burns analysis
Desire by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis
To A Dead Man by Carl Sandburg analysis
Kin To Sorrow by Edna St. Vincent Millay analysis
Much Madness is divinest Sense by Emily Dickinson analysis
Five Flights Up by Elizabeth Bishop analysis
Metaphors Of A Magnifico by Wallace Stevens analysis
The Coronet by Andrew Marvell analysis
Once by the Pacific by Robert Lee Frost analysis