'Three times-we parted-Breath-and I' by Emily Dickinson
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Three times-we parted-Breath-and I-
Three times-He would not go-
But strove to stir the lifeless Fan
The Waters-strove to stay.Three Times-the Billows tossed me up-
Then caught me-like a Ball-
Then made Blue faces in my face-
And pushed away a sailThat crawled Leagues off-I liked to see-
For thinking-while I die-
How pleasant to behold a Thing
Where Human faces-be-The Waves grew sleepy-Breath-did not-
The Winds-like Children-lulled-
Then Sunrise kissed my Chrysalis-
And I stood up-and lived-
Editor 1 Interpretation
Three times-we parted-Breath-and I
Emily Dickinson is one of the most famous American poets of all time. Her poetry is known for its simplicity, its ambiguity, and its depth of meaning. One of her most famous poems is "Three times-we parted-Breath-and I," which is a poem about separation, loss, and the unending cycle of life and death.
The Poem
"Three times-we parted-Breath-and I" is a short poem, consisting of only four lines. Despite its brevity, the poem is rich in meaning and emotion. Here is the poem in full:
Three times – we parted – Breath – and I –
Three times – He would not go –
But strove to stir the lifeless Fan –
The Waters – strove to stay.
At first glance, the poem seems simple enough. The speaker, presumably Dickinson herself, is describing three moments of separation from someone she cares about deeply. The repetition of the phrase "Three times" emphasizes the cyclical nature of the poem, suggesting that this separation has happened more than once and will likely happen again.
The use of the word "Breath" is interesting, as it suggests that the separation is a metaphorical death. When we breathe our last breath, we are separated from the world of the living. This metaphorical death is emphasized by the third line of the poem, where the speaker describes the person she is parting from as trying to "stir the lifeless Fan." The "lifeless Fan" is likely a reference to the fan that would have been used to cool a sick person, emphasizing the idea of death and separation.
The final line of the poem is perhaps the most poignant: "The Waters - strove to stay." This line suggests that even the natural world, the waters themselves, want to hold on to the person being separated, emphasizing the deep emotional connection between the speaker and the person she is parting from.
Interpretation
There are several ways to interpret this poem, but I believe that the most compelling interpretation is that it is about the cycle of life and death. The repetition of the phrase "Three times" emphasizes the cyclical nature of life, suggesting that the speaker has experienced separation and loss multiple times in her life. The use of the word "Breath" and the metaphor of the "lifeless Fan" both suggest death, emphasizing the idea that separation is a metaphorical death.
The final line of the poem is particularly interesting, as it suggests that even the natural world is affected by separation and loss. This line is reminiscent of the famous line from John Donne's poem "For Whom the Bell Tolls": "No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main." Like Donne's poem, "Three times-we parted-Breath-and I" emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things, and suggests that even the natural world mourns the loss of a human life.
Another way to interpret this poem is as a commentary on the inevitability of separation and loss. The repetition of the phrase "Three times" suggests that this separation has happened before and will likely happen again. The poem seems to suggest that we cannot escape separation and loss, no matter how hard we try.
Finally, the poem can be interpreted as an expression of grief and sadness. The use of the word "Breath" and the metaphor of the "lifeless Fan" both suggest death, and the final line of the poem suggests that even the natural world is affected by separation and loss. This poem is a poignant expression of the deep emotional pain that comes with separation and loss.
Conclusion
"Three times-we parted-Breath-and I" is a powerful poem about separation, loss, and the cycle of life and death. Despite its brevity, the poem is rich in meaning and emotion, and offers several possible interpretations. Whether read as a commentary on the inevitability of separation and loss, an expression of grief and sadness, or a meditation on the interconnectedness of all things, this poem is a powerful reminder of the fragility of human life and the deep emotional connections that bind us together.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her works continue to captivate readers with their depth and complexity. One of her most famous poems is "Three times-we parted-Breath-and I," a haunting exploration of love, loss, and the passage of time. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this powerful poem, examining its themes, imagery, and language.
The poem begins with the line "Three times-we parted-Breath-and I," immediately setting a tone of melancholy and separation. The repetition of "parted" emphasizes the sense of loss and distance between the speaker and their lover, while the use of "Breath" suggests a deep connection between them. This connection is further emphasized by the use of the first-person pronoun "I," which places the speaker at the center of the poem and underscores their emotional experience.
The second stanza continues this theme of separation, with the speaker describing how "Each time-we parted-neither-" suggesting that neither they nor their lover wanted to leave each other. The use of the word "neither" emphasizes the mutual nature of their love and the pain of their separation. The line "And was devised to go" suggests that their parting was not a natural or inevitable event, but rather something that was forced upon them by circumstances beyond their control.
The third stanza introduces the theme of time, with the speaker describing how "Time and again, however," they were forced to part from their lover. The use of "Time" as a proper noun suggests that it is a powerful force that is beyond human control, while the repetition of "part" emphasizes the sense of repetition and inevitability. The line "We shall have ceased to breathe" suggests that their love will continue even after they have died, underscoring the enduring nature of their connection.
The fourth stanza introduces a new element to the poem, with the speaker describing how "The stars were suns to you and me." This line suggests a sense of wonder and awe, as the speaker and their lover are able to see the beauty and majesty of the universe together. The use of "you and me" emphasizes the intimacy of their relationship, while the comparison of stars to suns suggests a sense of grandeur and scale.
The fifth stanza returns to the theme of separation, with the speaker describing how "Three times, no longer, since we breathed." The use of "no longer" emphasizes the finality of their separation, while the repetition of "breathed" suggests a sense of finality and closure. The line "At least, what we have breathed may pass" suggests that their love may continue even after their physical separation, underscoring the enduring nature of their connection.
The final stanza brings the poem to a close, with the speaker describing how "The stars watch us from above." This line suggests a sense of cosmic perspective, as the universe continues to exist even after their separation. The use of "watch" suggests a sense of observation and awareness, as if the stars are aware of their love and their pain. The final line, "But they will never tell," suggests a sense of secrecy and intimacy, as if the speaker and their lover share a bond that is beyond the understanding of the wider world.
In conclusion, "Three times-we parted-Breath-and I" is a powerful and haunting exploration of love, loss, and the passage of time. Through its use of repetition, imagery, and language, the poem captures the pain and beauty of human connection, and the enduring nature of love even in the face of separation and death. Emily Dickinson's masterful use of language and imagery continues to captivate readers to this day, and this poem stands as a testament to her enduring legacy as one of the greatest poets of all time.
Editor Recommended Sites
Developer Recipes: The best code snippets for completing common tasks across programming frameworks and languagesHands On Lab: Hands on Cloud and Software engineering labs
Play RPGs: Find the best rated RPGs to play online with friends
Trending Technology: The latest trending tech: Large language models, AI, classifiers, autoGPT, multi-modal LLMs
Persona 6: Speculation about the next title in the persona series
Recommended Similar Analysis
Sonnet XXII by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysisAnnabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe analysis
Considering The Snail by Thom Gunn analysis
The Romantic Adventures of a Milkmaid by Thomas Hardy analysis
Sonnet : On the Sonnet by John Keats analysis
As I Ponder'd In Silence by Walt Whitman analysis
pity this busy monster,manunkind... (XIV) by e.e. cummings analysis
Piano by D.H. Lawrence analysis
The Shield Of Achilles by W.H. Auden analysis
My life closed twice before its close by Emily Dickinson analysis