'If anybody's friend be dead' by Emily Dickinson
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If anybody's friend be dead
It's sharpest of the theme
The thinking how they walked alive-
At such and such a time-Their costume, of a Sunday,
Some manner of the Hair-
A prank nobody knew but them
Lost, in the Sepulchre-How warm, they were, on such a day,
You almost feel the date-
So short way off it seems-
And now-they're Centuries from that-How pleased they were, at what you said-
You try to touch the smile
And dip your fingers in the frost-
When was it-Can you tell-You asked the Company to tea-
Acquaintance-just a few-
And chatted close with this Grand Thing
That don't remember you-Past Bows, and Invitations-
Past Interview, and Vow-
Past what Ourself can estimate-
That-makes the Quick of Woe!
Editor 1 Interpretation
"If Anybody's Friend Be Dead" by Emily Dickinson: A Deep Dive into the Layers of Grief
Oh, Emily Dickinson. The reclusive, brilliant poet who poured her heart and soul into her verses, often writing about death, grief, and the fragility of life. "If Anybody's Friend Be Dead" is no exception. In fact, it might be one of her most poignant and heart-wrenching poems, exploring the layers of grief and how it affects not only the bereaved but also those around them.
Let's dive into this masterpiece and unpack its themes, language, structure, and meaning.
Context and Background
Before we delve into the poem itself, it's worth exploring some context and background about Emily Dickinson and her writing. Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1830 and lived there for most of her life, rarely venturing outside her family's home. She wrote over 1,800 poems but only a handful were published during her lifetime, as she was fiercely private and protective of her work.
Dickinson's poetry is known for its unconventional syntax, capitalization, and punctuation, as well as its stark imagery and raw emotion. She often wrote about themes such as death, love, nature, and spirituality, and her poems were often cryptic and layered with multiple meanings.
"If Anybody's Friend Be Dead" was written sometime in the mid-1860s and is one of several poems Dickinson wrote about death and grief. It was not published until after her death in 1886, when her sister Lavinia discovered her collection of poems and had them edited and published.
The Poem
Now, let's turn our attention to the poem itself. Here is the full text:
If anybody's friend be dead
It's sharpest of the theme
The thinking how they walked alive
At such and such a time —
Their costume of a lifetime
Affects us, as a bird
Goes quieter in the woods
Because he is not heard,
And then we pause for breath
Not knowing where to go,
Ourself and mystery,
And then how far we owe
To that habiliment the soul
We cannot date, or place,
Nor circumstance classify —
Except by states far out of grace.
How many times they lifted
And leveled with the ground
Troubling the woodworm's sleep
By treading on his mound —
And then how they were crowded
Between the forests of the knees,
When even the purple seams
Were pressed with cautious ease —
And then we paused for breath
As much as such a chair
Is occupied by air —
The touch of such a stay
Suffices us — we shall not speak
Of their departure, draw
No careless gossip in — no tear —
No tribute at their lawn —
Bays have no home —
What care for paramount estate
A universe away?
Emily Dickinson
Form and Structure
One of the first things that stands out about this poem is its form and structure. It consists of eight stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a strict ABCB rhyme scheme. This gives the poem a sense of coherence and musicality, almost like a song.
However, the poem's meter is more complex. It alternates between iambic tetrameter (four iambs per line) and iambic trimeter (three iambs per line), which creates a sense of rhythm and flow that is not too rigid or predictable.
This combination of strict rhyme and flexible meter is typical of Dickinson's style and adds to the poem's overall effect of balance and harmony.
Language and Imagery
Moving on to the poem's language and imagery, there are several notable features worth exploring.
Firstly, the poem is full of metaphors and similes that compare the dead to various things in nature or everyday life. For example, in the second stanza, the dead person's "costume of a lifetime" is compared to a bird's song that is no longer heard. This metaphor conveys a sense of loss and absence that is both poignant and relatable.
Similarly, the dead person's body is described as "troubling the woodworm's sleep by treading on his mound" in stanza five. This image suggests that even the smallest actions of the dead person had an impact on the world around them, and that their absence is palpable.
Another striking aspect of the poem's language is its use of enjambment and caesura. Enjambment occurs when a line of poetry ends without punctuation and continues onto the next line, creating a sense of continuity and flow. Caesura, on the other hand, is a deliberate pause or break in the middle of a line, often marked by punctuation such as a dash or semicolon.
Dickinson uses both of these techniques to great effect in "If Anybody's Friend Be Dead". For example, in the first stanza, the phrase "At such and such a time" carries over onto the next line, emphasizing the importance of that moment in the speaker's memory. Similarly, in the third stanza, the phrase "Nor circumstance classify" is separated by a dash, creating a moment of reflection and uncertainty.
Finally, the poem's language is notable for its use of repetition, particularly in the final stanza. The phrase "no careless gossip in, no tear, no tribute at their lawn" is repeated three times, emphasizing the speaker's desire for privacy and respect in mourning. This repetition, combined with the final two lines that suggest that the dead person has no home or estate, reinforces the idea that death is a great equalizer and that worldly possessions and status mean nothing in the face of mortality.
Themes and Interpretation
So, what does "If Anybody's Friend Be Dead" mean? What themes and ideas is Dickinson exploring in this poem?
At its core, this poem is a meditation on grief and the layers of emotion and memory that accompany the death of a loved one. The speaker reflects on the small details of the dead person's life, such as their clothing and movements, and how those details are now imbued with meaning and significance in the wake of their passing.
The poem also touches on the idea of legacy and how the dead person's actions and presence continue to affect the world around them, even after they are gone. This is evident in the image of the dead person treading on a woodworm's mound, suggesting that their small actions had an impact on even the smallest creatures.
Furthermore, the poem explores the idea of the unknown and the mysterious aspects of death that cannot be fully understood or classified. This is evident in the phrase "ourself and mystery" in the third stanza, suggesting that grief is not just about the loss of a loved one but also the loss of a familiar and predictable world.
Overall, "If Anybody's Friend Be Dead" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the complex emotions and experiences of grief in a poignant and relatable way. It reminds us of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing those we love while we still have them.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it. A deep dive into Emily Dickinson's "If Anybody's Friend Be Dead", a poem that explores the layers of grief and the small details that become significant in the face of mortality. We've explored its form, structure, language, imagery, and themes, and hopefully gained a greater appreciation for Dickinson's unique and powerful voice.
As always, reading and interpreting poetry is a subjective experience, and different readers may have different interpretations and reactions to the poem. But that's the beauty of poetry - it speaks to us in different ways and reveals new layers of meaning with each reading.
So, I invite you to read "If Anybody's Friend Be Dead" again, and see what new insights and emotions it stirs in you. And remember, in the words of Dickinson herself, "Forever is composed of nows."
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
"If anybody's friend be dead" by Emily Dickinson: A Poetic Exploration of Grief and Loss
Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated American poets of the 19th century, is known for her unique style of writing that often explores themes of death, nature, and spirituality. In her poem "If anybody's friend be dead," Dickinson delves into the complex emotions of grief and loss, and offers a poignant reflection on the nature of friendship and its enduring power.
The Poem
If anybody's friend be dead
It's sharpest of the theme
The thinking how they walked alive
At such and such a time
Their costume, of a Sunday,
Some manner of the hair—
A prank nobody knew but them
Lost, in the Sepulchre—
How warm they were on such a day
You almost feel the date—
Her garments are so close to me,
They're epic to relate—
In her poem, Dickinson begins by acknowledging the pain and intensity of grief when someone loses a friend. She describes it as "sharpest of the theme," suggesting that it is one of the most difficult emotions to deal with. The second line of the poem, "The thinking how they walked alive," highlights the sense of loss and nostalgia that often accompanies the death of a loved one. Dickinson then goes on to describe the memories that come flooding back when we think of our departed friends. She mentions their costume, hair, and even a prank that only they knew, all of which are now lost in the sepulchre, or tomb.
The third stanza of the poem is particularly poignant, as Dickinson describes the warmth and closeness that we feel towards our friends, especially on certain days or occasions. She says that the memory of their garments is so vivid that it becomes "epic to relate," suggesting that it is a powerful and enduring memory that we hold onto long after they are gone.
Analysis
At its core, "If anybody's friend be dead" is a meditation on the nature of friendship and the impact that the loss of a friend can have on us. Dickinson's use of language is simple yet evocative, and she manages to capture the essence of grief and loss in just a few short stanzas.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way in which Dickinson describes the memories that we hold onto after a friend has died. She mentions their costume, hair, and even a prank that only they knew, all of which are now lost in the sepulchre. This imagery is particularly powerful, as it suggests that even the smallest details of a person's life can become significant and meaningful after they are gone. It also highlights the sense of loss and nostalgia that we feel when we think of our departed friends, and the way in which their absence can leave a void in our lives.
The third stanza of the poem is particularly moving, as Dickinson describes the warmth and closeness that we feel towards our friends, especially on certain days or occasions. She says that the memory of their garments is so vivid that it becomes "epic to relate," suggesting that it is a powerful and enduring memory that we hold onto long after they are gone. This idea of the enduring power of friendship is a recurring theme in Dickinson's poetry, and it is one that she explores in depth in many of her other works.
Another interesting aspect of the poem is the way in which Dickinson uses language to convey the intensity of grief. She describes it as "sharpest of the theme," suggesting that it is one of the most difficult emotions to deal with. This language is particularly effective, as it captures the raw and painful nature of grief, and the way in which it can consume us completely.
Conclusion
Overall, "If anybody's friend be dead" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the complex emotions of grief and loss. Through her use of language and imagery, Dickinson manages to capture the essence of friendship and the impact that the loss of a friend can have on us. Her words are simple yet evocative, and they offer a poignant reflection on the enduring power of friendship and the way in which it can shape our lives long after our friends are gone.
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