'Love-thou art high' by Emily Dickinson
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Love-thou art high-
I cannot climb thee-
But, were it Two-
Who know but we-
Taking turns-at the Chimborazo-
Ducal-at last-stand up by thee-Love-thou are deep-
I cannot cross thee-
But, were there Two
Instead of One-
Rower, and Yacht-some sovereign Summer-
Who knows-but we'd reach the Sun?Love-thou are Veiled-
A few-behold thee-
Smile-and alter-and prattle-and die-
Bliss-were an Oddity-without thee-
Nicknamed by God-
Eternity-
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Poetry, Love-thou art high" by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Wow, where do I even begin with this poem? Emily Dickinson's "Poetry, Love-thou art high" is a masterful work of art that explores the nature of love and its connection to poetry. It's a short but incredibly powerful piece that deserves a deep dive into its meaning and significance.
Overview of the Poem
First, let's take a look at the poem itself:
Poetry, Love-thou art high—
I cannot climb thee—
But, were it Destiny's delight,
Not Grief's, in my possession
I'd seek thee, Whosoever
Thou mightst be,
And Thou shouldst be liegeman
To no one but Me—
And, like a Robin, Hood,
Thou shouldst have no Mail
To cover thee—
Thou shouldst be nothing
To any one—
But, mine, sweet,
And only, all the while—
And, like a Manna,
In my bosom,
Thou shouldst lie—
Until I crushed thee—
Or, thou me.
At first glance, this poem seems to be about the speaker's desire for love and how it relates to poetry. The speaker talks about how she cannot "climb" love like she can climb a mountain, but would seek it out if it were in her possession. She also talks about how this love should belong to her alone and no one else, like the mythical figure Robin Hood.
But as we delve deeper into the poem, we see that there is much more going on here than just a simple expression of love.
Analysis of the Poem
The first thing to note about this poem is its structure. It's written in quatrains, with each stanza consisting of four lines. This gives the poem a sense of order and balance, which contrasts with the chaotic and unpredictable nature of love.
The poem begins with the line "Poetry, Love-thou art high," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the word "high" suggests that both poetry and love are lofty and unattainable, something that the speaker cannot easily reach or grasp. This is reinforced by the next line, where the speaker says "I cannot climb thee." The use of the word "thee" instead of "you" gives the line a sense of formality and reverence, as if the speaker is addressing a higher power.
The next line, "But, were it Destiny's delight, / Not Grief's, in my possession," is a bit more difficult to parse. It seems to suggest that the speaker would only seek out love if it were a positive force in her life, rather than a source of pain and sorrow. This could be seen as a critique of the romantic notion of love as something that is always worth pursuing, regardless of the consequences.
The following two lines are where the poem starts to get really interesting. The speaker says that she would seek out love "Whosoever / Thou mightst be," but that this love should belong to her alone and no one else. The use of the word "liegeman" is particularly intriguing, as it implies a feudal relationship where the speaker is the lord and love is the vassal. This puts the speaker in a position of power over love, which is not something that we typically see in love poetry.
The next line, "And, like a Robin, Hood, / Thou shouldst have no Mail / To cover thee," further reinforces this idea of the speaker being in control. Robin Hood was a legendary outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor, so the comparison suggests that the speaker wants a love that is unencumbered by societal norms and conventions. The use of the word "Mail" is also significant, as it refers to the armor that knights would wear in battle. This implies that the speaker wants a love that is vulnerable and unprotected, something that she can conquer.
The next two lines are where the poem takes another interesting turn. The speaker says that love should be "nothing / To any one / But, mine, sweet." This suggests that the speaker wants a love that is purely selfish and that she doesn't want to share with anyone else. This is a stark contrast to the idea of love as something that is meant to be shared and spread around.
The final two lines of the poem are perhaps the most enigmatic. The speaker says that love should be "like a Manna, / In my bosom." Manna is a biblical reference to the food that fell from heaven to sustain the Israelites during their journey through the desert. This suggests that the speaker sees love as a kind of sustenance, something that she needs to survive. The use of the word "bosom" also implies a deep emotional connection to love.
But the final line, "Until I crushed thee— / Or, thou me," is where the poem really packs a punch. The use of the word "crushed" implies a violent and destructive end to the relationship, rather than a peaceful and loving one. This raises the question of whether the speaker really wants love at all, or if she just wants to possess and conquer it.
Interpretation of the Poem
So what does all of this mean? At its core, "Poetry, Love-thou art high" is a meditation on the nature of love and its relationship to power and control. The speaker wants a love that is unencumbered by societal norms and conventions, something that is vulnerable and unprotected. But at the same time, she wants this love to belong to her and her alone, to be a source of sustenance and power.
This raises the question of whether the speaker really understands what love is. Love is often seen as a force that is meant to be shared and spread around, not something that can be possessed and conquered. The speaker's desire for power over love suggests a kind of insecurity or fear of vulnerability, which is not a healthy foundation for any relationship.
But at the same time, there is a certain beauty and power in the speaker's words. The use of the word "liegeman" and the comparison to Robin Hood show a willingness to challenge societal norms and conventions, to seek out a love that is truly free and unencumbered. This is a powerful message that speaks to the human desire for liberation and self-determination.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily Dickinson's "Poetry, Love-thou art high" is a complex and richly layered poem that explores the nature of love and its relationship to power and control. The speaker's desire for a love that is unencumbered by societal norms and conventions is both beautiful and troubling, and raises important questions about the nature of love and what it means to truly connect with another person. This is a poem that rewards close reading and reflection, and 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
Poetry Love-thou art high: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her works continue to inspire and captivate readers to this day. One of her most famous poems is "Poetry Love-thou art high," a beautiful and thought-provoking piece that explores the nature of poetry and its relationship to the human experience. In this article, 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 the line "Poetry—Love—thou art high," immediately setting the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the word "high" suggests that poetry and love are elevated, transcendent concepts that exist beyond the mundane world of everyday life. This idea is reinforced in the next line, which reads "But there are no hearts that in thee lie," suggesting that poetry and love are not tangible things that can be held or possessed. Rather, they are abstract concepts that exist only in the mind and heart of the individual.
The next stanza of the poem explores the idea that poetry and love are intertwined, and that they both have the power to elevate and transform the human experience. Dickinson writes, "Oh, they are not of the earth, / But moulded far above, / A heaven lies about us in our infancy!" Here, she suggests that poetry and love are not limited by the physical world, but rather exist on a higher plane of existence. The reference to "heaven" reinforces this idea, suggesting that poetry and love have the power to transport us to a higher state of being.
The third stanza of the poem explores the idea that poetry and love are both elusive and difficult to define. Dickinson writes, "When heaven was ours, and all the earth, / Out of the depths of a mystic dream / The voice of a poet is sweet on the ear." Here, she suggests that poetry and love are both mysterious and difficult to grasp, and that they can only be experienced through the work of a skilled poet. The use of the word "mystic" reinforces this idea, suggesting that poetry and love are both shrouded in mystery and difficult to understand.
The final stanza of the poem brings the piece to a close, and reinforces the idea that poetry and love are both transcendent and transformative. Dickinson writes, "And the heart that is soonest awake to the flowers / Is always the first to be touch'd by the thorns." Here, she suggests that those who are most attuned to the beauty and wonder of the world are also the most vulnerable to its pain and suffering. The reference to "flowers" and "thorns" reinforces this idea, suggesting that the beauty and pain of the world are inextricably linked.
Overall, "Poetry Love-thou art high" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the nature of poetry and its relationship to the human experience. Through her use of language and imagery, Emily Dickinson suggests that poetry and love are both transcendent and transformative, and that they have the power to elevate and transform the human experience. The poem continues to resonate with readers today, and serves as a testament to the enduring power of poetry and the human spirit.
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