'Empty my Heart, of Thee' by Emily Dickinson

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Empty my Heart, of Thee-
Its single Artery-
Begin, and leave Thee out-
Simply Extinction's Date-Much Billow hath the Sea-
One Baltic-They-
Subtract Thyself, in play,
And not enough of me
Is left-to put away-
"Myself" meanth Thee-Erase the Root-no Tree-
Thee-then-no me-
The Heavens stripped-
Eternity's vast pocket, picked-

Editor 1 Interpretation

"Poetry, Empty my Heart, of Thee" by Emily Dickinson: A Poem of Intense Passion and Yearning

Emily Dickinson's "Poetry, Empty my Heart, of Thee" is a masterpiece of poetic expression, a work that explores the depths of the human heart and the power of language to give voice to our most intense emotions. In this poem, Dickinson draws upon her own experiences of love and longing, using the metaphor of poetry as a means of expressing the unspoken feelings that lie at the heart of all human relationships.

At its core, "Poetry, Empty my Heart, of Thee" is a poem about the power of language to transcend the limitations of the physical world and connect us with the divine. Dickinson begins by addressing poetry directly, as if it were a living entity that could hear and respond to her words:

Poetry, empty my heart, of thee—
To thee I lift my sorrowing eyes—
To thee I breathe my deepest sighs—
And in thy presence live and die.

The repetition of "thee" throughout the first stanza creates a sense of urgency and intensity, as if Dickinson is imploring poetry to come to her aid in her time of need. The language is rich and evocative, with phrases like "my sorrowing eyes" and "my deepest sighs" conveying a sense of emotional depth and complexity.

As the poem progresses, Dickinson explores the relationship between poetry and the human heart in greater detail. She describes poetry as a source of comfort and solace, a means of overcoming the pain and suffering that are an inevitable part of human existence:

With thy sweet strains my heart is filled,
And all its griefs and pains are stilled;
The sorrows that I cannot bear
Are soothed and hushed beneath thy care.

Here, Dickinson uses language to create a vivid contrast between the turmoil of the human heart and the tranquility of the world of poetry. The use of the word "sweet" to describe the strains of poetry creates a sense of comfort and reassurance, while the phrase "all its griefs and pains are stilled" suggests a sense of calm and peace.

However, Dickinson does not shy away from the darker aspects of human emotion in "Poetry, Empty my Heart, of Thee". She acknowledges that love and passion can be overwhelming and even destructive, causing us to lose ourselves in the intensity of our feelings:

But oh, thy power is great, 'tis true,
Thou canst not always love renew;
At times thy touch but fans the flame,
That else had died in passion's shame.

In these lines, Dickinson is grappling with the paradoxical nature of human desire. On the one hand, love and passion can be transformative, giving us a sense of purpose and meaning in life. On the other hand, they can be destructive, leading us down dark and dangerous paths that we may not be able to escape from.

Ultimately, however, Dickinson finds solace in the power of poetry to give voice to the deepest yearnings of the human heart. In the final stanza of the poem, she envisions a world where poetry is able to transcend the limitations of time and space, connecting us with a sense of transcendence and spiritual significance:

But poetry, oh, poetry,
Canst thou not give eternity?
Canst thou not lift me far above
This world of sin, and death, and love?

Here, Dickinson is reaching for something beyond the realm of the physical world, something that can only be accessed through the power of language and imagination. The repetition of "oh, poetry" creates a sense of wonder and awe, as if Dickinson is imploring poetry to take her on a journey to a place beyond the ordinary.

In conclusion, "Poetry, Empty my Heart, of Thee" is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the deepest yearnings of the human heart. Through her use of rich and evocative language, Emily Dickinson creates a sense of intensity and urgency that draws the reader in and makes them feel as if they too are experiencing the emotions she is describing. Whether one is a lover of poetry or not, this poem speaks to the universal human experience of love, longing, and the search for something beyond ourselves.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her poem "Empty my Heart, of Thee" is a classic example of her unique style and poetic genius. This poem is a beautiful expression of love and longing, and it captures the essence of human emotion in a way that is both powerful and poignant.

The poem begins with the line "Empty my heart, of Thee," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is addressing their lover, asking them to leave their heart and their thoughts. This line is significant because it suggests that the speaker is overwhelmed by their feelings for their lover and needs some space to process them.

The next line, "Its single arbor - be," is a metaphor for the speaker's heart. The word "arbor" suggests a place of shelter and protection, and the fact that it is "single" implies that the speaker's heart is focused solely on their lover. The use of the word "be" is also significant because it suggests that the speaker wants their heart to be a safe haven for their lover, a place where they can find comfort and solace.

The third line, "And lose me in the sky," is a beautiful image that suggests the speaker wants to be free from their earthly concerns and be lost in the vastness of the sky. This line is significant because it suggests that the speaker is willing to let go of their own desires and needs in order to be with their lover.

The fourth line, "My drop of dew," is a metaphor for the speaker's love for their lover. The use of the word "drop" suggests that the speaker's love is small and fragile, but also pure and precious. The image of a dewdrop is also significant because it suggests that the speaker's love is something that is fleeting and ephemeral, like the morning dew.

The fifth line, "From the heights defaceless," is a reference to the speaker's desire to be with their lover in a place that is free from the constraints of society and the expectations of others. The use of the word "defaceless" suggests that the speaker wants to be with their lover in a place that is pure and unspoiled, where their love can flourish without any interference.

The sixth line, "Unto my fate, and me," is a powerful statement of the speaker's commitment to their lover. The use of the word "fate" suggests that the speaker believes that their love is predestined, and that they are willing to accept whatever comes their way in order to be with their lover.

The final line, "I give Thee, sovereignty," is a beautiful expression of the speaker's love and devotion to their lover. The use of the word "sovereignty" suggests that the speaker is willing to give up their own power and control in order to be with their lover, and that they are willing to submit to their lover's will.

Overall, "Empty my Heart, of Thee" is a beautiful and powerful poem that captures the essence of human emotion in a way that is both timeless and universal. Emily Dickinson's unique style and poetic genius shine through in every line, and the poem is a testament to her talent and her ability to capture the complexities of the human heart.

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