'The first Day's Night had come' by Emily Dickinson

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The first Day's Night had come-
And grateful that a thing
So terrible-had been endured-
I told my Soul to sing-She said her Strings were snapt-
Her Bow-to Atoms blown-
And so to mend her-gave me work
Until another Morn-And then-a Day as huge
As Yesterdays in pairs,
Unrolled its horror in my face-
Until it blocked my eyes-My Brain-begun to laugh-
I mumbled-like a fool-
And tho' 'tis Years ago-that Day-
My Brain keeps giggling-still.And Something's odd-within-
That person that I was-
And this One-do not feel the same-
Could it be Madness-this?

Editor 1 Interpretation

The First Day's Night had Come: A Critical Interpretation

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets in American literature. Her works have inspired and captivated readers for over a century, and her unique style and perspective continue to fascinate scholars and enthusiasts alike. One of her most famous poems, "The First Day's Night had Come," is a haunting and evocative piece that explores themes of death, loss, and the mysteries of the unknown. In this essay, we will delve into the poem's language, structure, and imagery to uncover its deeper meanings and explore its enduring relevance.

Form and Structure

At first glance, "The First Day's Night had Come" appears to be a simple, straightforward poem. It consists of just four stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a basic ABAB rhyme scheme. However, closer examination reveals that the poem's structure is far from ordinary. Dickinson employs a number of unusual techniques to create a sense of disorientation and unease in the reader.

For one thing, the poem is written in the first person, but the speaker is never identified. This anonymity creates a sense of detachment and objectivity, as if the speaker is observing events from a distance. Additionally, Dickinson's use of dashes and ellipses creates a fragmented, disjointed rhythm that makes the poem feel like a series of disconnected images and thoughts. The result is a poem that is both eerie and unsettling, leaving the reader with a sense of unease that lingers long after the final lines.

Language and Imagery

One of the most striking aspects of "The First Day's Night had Come" is its use of vivid, evocative imagery. Dickinson uses a series of stark, elemental images to create a mood of foreboding and uncertainty. The opening lines, for example, describe "the first day's night" as a time when "the heavens were a bell," suggesting a sense of impending doom or judgment. Similarly, the description of "the landscape listened" creates a sense of stillness and anticipation, as if the natural world is waiting for something to happen.

As the poem progresses, Dickinson introduces a series of increasingly unsettling images. The image of "the sunset hung in token of the fact it's conquered this last night" suggests a sense of triumph, but also hints at the inevitability of death and decay. The "miles of stolid faces" that appear "to us like a strange procession" create a sense of otherness and alienation, as if the speaker is witnessing a world that is both familiar and unfamiliar. Finally, the image of "the seal upon my soul" suggests a sense of closure and finality, as if the speaker has accepted her fate and is ready to move on.

Themes and Interpretation

Taken together, the language and imagery of "The First Day's Night had Come" create a complex and multi-layered work that explores a number of important themes. At its heart, the poem is a meditation on death and mortality, and the ways in which we come to terms with our own mortality. The image of the seal upon the speaker's soul suggests a sense of acceptance and resignation, as if she has made peace with the fact that her time on earth is limited. Similarly, the image of the conquered night suggests a sense of triumph over death, as if the speaker is ready to face whatever comes next.

However, there is also a sense of unease and uncertainty that runs throughout the poem. The image of the heavens as a bell suggests a sense of impending judgment or reckoning, and the use of dashes and ellipses creates a sense of disorientation and confusion. This suggests that, even as the speaker has come to terms with her own mortality, there is still a great deal that is unknown and unknowable.

One possible interpretation of this poem is that it is a reflection on the nature of faith and belief. The sense of triumph and acceptance that runs throughout the poem suggests that the speaker has a deep faith in something beyond this world, something that gives her comfort and solace even in the face of death. However, the sense of unease and uncertainty suggests that this faith is not absolute, and that even the most devout believers are plagued by doubts and uncertainties.

Conclusion

"The First Day's Night had Come" is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores a number of important themes. Through its use of vivid, evocative imagery and disjointed structure, Dickinson creates a mood of foreboding and uncertainty that lingers long after the final lines. Ultimately, the poem is a reflection on the nature of mortality, faith, and the mysteries of the unknown. Its enduring relevance is a testament to Dickinson's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the complexities of the human experience.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The First Day's Night Had Come: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poetry

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her works continue to inspire and captivate readers even today. One of her most famous poems is "The First Day's Night Had Come," which is a beautiful and haunting piece that explores the themes of death, nature, and the passage of time. In this article, we will take a closer look at this classic poem and analyze its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the line "The first day's night had come," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the word "night" suggests darkness and the unknown, while the phrase "first day" implies a new beginning or a fresh start. This contrast between light and dark, life and death, is a recurring theme throughout the poem.

The second line reads, "And grateful that a thing / So terrible had been endured." Here, Dickinson seems to be suggesting that the darkness and the unknown are not necessarily bad things. In fact, she seems to be saying that they can be a source of gratitude and appreciation, as they allow us to endure and overcome difficult times.

The third and fourth lines read, "I told my soul to sing / For such a requiem." Here, Dickinson is using the word "requiem" to refer to a funeral song or a hymn for the dead. By telling her soul to sing for such a requiem, she is acknowledging the inevitability of death and the importance of honoring those who have passed on.

The fifth and sixth lines read, "And from my pillow, looking forth / I saw the sun go down." Here, Dickinson is using the image of the sun setting to symbolize the end of a life or a period of time. The fact that she is watching the sun go down from her pillow suggests that she is either bedridden or contemplating her own mortality.

The seventh and eighth lines read, "The rivers, at their own sweet will / Had emptied all the sky." Here, Dickinson is using the image of the rivers emptying the sky to suggest that nature is in control of the passage of time. The fact that the rivers are doing this "at their own sweet will" suggests that time is not something that can be controlled or manipulated by humans.

The ninth and tenth lines read, "The moon rose, and the ghostly pall / Fell on the earth below." Here, Dickinson is using the image of the moon rising and casting a "ghostly pall" over the earth to suggest that death is a natural and inevitable part of life. The fact that the moon is rising suggests that a new beginning is about to take place, but the "ghostly pall" suggests that this new beginning will be haunted by the memory of what has been lost.

The eleventh and twelfth lines read, "The lightnings, lit the poles; / The levant's light, would tell." Here, Dickinson is using the image of lightning to suggest that even in the midst of darkness and uncertainty, there are moments of clarity and illumination. The fact that the "levant's light" is also mentioned suggests that there is hope and possibility even in the darkest of times.

The thirteenth and fourteenth lines read, "The seasons, changed their places, / As if, by nations, wrought." Here, Dickinson is using the image of the seasons changing to suggest that time is constantly moving forward and that change is inevitable. The fact that she uses the phrase "as if, by nations, wrought" suggests that this change is not something that can be controlled or predicted by humans.

The fifteenth and sixteenth lines read, "The flower, that once had bloomed, / Died in the garden's path." Here, Dickinson is using the image of a flower dying to suggest that everything in life has a beginning and an end. The fact that the flower dies "in the garden's path" suggests that even the most beautiful and vibrant things in life are subject to the forces of nature and time.

The final two lines of the poem read, "If I could sue them, would I? / I would not, if I could." Here, Dickinson is using the word "sue" to mean "control" or "manipulate." By saying that she would not sue the forces of nature and time even if she could, she is acknowledging that these forces are beyond human control and that it is futile to try to resist them.

In conclusion, "The First Day's Night Had Come" is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores the themes of death, nature, and the passage of time. Through her use of vivid imagery and powerful language, Emily Dickinson is able to convey a sense of both the inevitability and the beauty of these themes. Whether you are a fan of poetry or simply appreciate the beauty of language, this classic poem is sure to leave a lasting impression.

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