'I tie my Hat-I crease my Shawl' by Emily Dickinson

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I tie my Hat-I crease my Shawl-
Life's little duties do-precisely-
As the very least
Were infinite-to me-I put new Blossoms in the Glass-
And throw the old-away-
I push a petal from my gown
That anchored there-I weigh
The time 'twill be till six o'clock
I have so much to do-
And yet-Existence-some way back-
Stopped-struck-my tickling-through-
We cannot put Ourself away
As a completed Man
Or Woman-When the Errand's done
We came to Flesh-upon-
There may be-Miles on Miles of Nought-
Of Action-sicker far-
To simulate-is stinging work-
To cover what we are
From Science-and from Surgery-
Too Telescopic Eyes
To bear on us unshaded-
For their-sake-not for Ours-
'Twould start them-
We-could tremble-
But since we got a Bomb-
And held it in our Bosom-
Nay-Hold it-it is calm-Therefore-we do life's labor-
Though life's Reward-be done-
With scrupulous exactness-
To hold our Senses-on-

Editor 1 Interpretation

"I tie my Hat-I crease my Shawl" - A Literary Criticism

Oh, Emily Dickinson! What can we say about this iconic poet? Her work is full of mystery, depth, and beauty. And among her many masterpieces, "I tie my Hat-I crease my Shawl" stands out as a gem that deserves close literary analysis and interpretation.

Overview

First, let's take a look at the poem itself. Here's the text in its entirety:

I tie my Hat-I crease my Shawl Life's little, less than little, drip, And drip, and drip. Upon the polished Green- Till all the Slid Gold-drip down- And No more can be seen- Drip, drip, upon the pane- Succession Sliding down, Succession Sinning in- And every Where that plashless Glass The subtle Bubbles swim.

A brief glance at the poem reveals its formal structure: six quatrains, rhyming abcb, with a consistent iambic trimeter. This simplicity and regularity of form creates a musicality that is soothing to the ear, and it belies the complexity of the poem's themes and symbolism.

Interpretation

So, what is this poem about? On the surface, it seems to describe a mundane task: the speaker is tying her hat and creasing her shawl. But as we delve deeper, we realize that this is a metaphor for something bigger: the passage of time and the transience of life.

The repeated phrase "Life's little, less than little, drip, / And drip, and drip" is a clear reference to the gradual and inexorable nature of time, as it drips away like water from a faucet. The imagery of gold dripping down upon the polished green suggests the beauty and preciousness of life, which slowly seeps away until it is gone.

The dripping is also echoed in the image of the raindrops sliding down the pane. This is a classic symbol of melancholy and introspection, as the speaker contemplates the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The "subtle Bubbles" that swim in the plashless glass suggest the insubstantiality of human existence, as we are mere bubbles floating on the surface of life's stream.

But there's more to this poem than just a meditation on mortality. The repeated use of the word "sinning" is intriguing, as it suggests a moral dimension to the speaker's thoughts. The raindrops sliding down the pane are "Succession Sinning in-", which implies that time itself is a kind of sin, a falling away from a state of grace or perfection.

This moral dimension is further emphasized in the final stanza, where the speaker seems to suggest that even the bubbles in the glass are guilty of sin. The phrase "And every Where" suggests a universal guilt, as if even the smallest and most insignificant things are complicit in the human condition.

Conclusion

So, what can we make of all this? "I tie my Hat-I crease my Shawl" is a deeply introspective poem that meditates on the nature of time, mortality, and sin. The regular, musical structure of the poem belies the complexity of its themes and the depth of its symbolism.

As with all of Emily Dickinson's work, there are many possible interpretations of this poem. Some readers might see it as a meditation on the beauty of life and the importance of seizing the moment, while others might see it as a warning against the dangers of complacency and moral decay.

But whatever your interpretation, one thing is clear: "I tie my Hat-I crease my Shawl" is a powerful and thought-provoking work of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her poem "I tie my Hat-I crease my Shawl" is a classic example of her unique style. This poem is a perfect example of Dickinson's ability to convey complex emotions and ideas through simple, concise language. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in this poem to understand its deeper meaning.

The poem "I tie my Hat-I crease my Shawl" is a short, four-line poem that explores the idea of self-presentation and the role it plays in our lives. The poem begins with the speaker describing how they tie their hat and crease their shawl, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for how we present ourselves to the world. The speaker then goes on to say that they are "ready to go" but that they are "not going," which suggests that there is something holding them back.

One of the main themes of this poem is the idea of self-presentation and how it can be used to mask our true feelings and emotions. The speaker's actions of tying their hat and creasing their shawl can be seen as a way of putting on a facade or a mask to hide their true feelings. This is further emphasized by the fact that the speaker is "ready to go" but is not actually going anywhere. This suggests that the speaker is not being true to themselves and is instead putting on a show for others.

Another theme that is explored in this poem is the idea of being held back by our own fears and insecurities. The fact that the speaker is not actually going anywhere suggests that they are being held back by something. This could be interpreted as a fear of the unknown or a fear of failure. The poem suggests that we often hold ourselves back from achieving our goals and dreams because of our own fears and insecurities.

The structure of this poem is also worth noting. The poem consists of four lines, each with a different number of syllables. The first line has six syllables, the second line has seven syllables, the third line has six syllables, and the fourth line has five syllables. This irregular structure gives the poem a unique rhythm and emphasizes the importance of each word.

In addition to its structure, this poem also uses several literary devices to convey its meaning. One of the most prominent literary devices used in this poem is metaphor. The speaker's actions of tying their hat and creasing their shawl can be interpreted as a metaphor for how we present ourselves to the world. This metaphor emphasizes the idea that we often put on a facade to hide our true feelings and emotions.

Another literary device used in this poem is repetition. The phrase "I tie my Hat-I crease my Shawl" is repeated twice in the poem, which emphasizes the importance of this action and reinforces the idea of self-presentation. The repetition of this phrase also gives the poem a sense of rhythm and creates a memorable image in the reader's mind.

Finally, this poem also uses imagery to convey its meaning. The image of the speaker tying their hat and creasing their shawl creates a vivid picture in the reader's mind and emphasizes the idea of self-presentation. The image of the speaker being held back by their own fears and insecurities is also a powerful one that resonates with many readers.

In conclusion, "I tie my Hat-I crease my Shawl" is a classic example of Emily Dickinson's unique style. This short, four-line poem explores the themes of self-presentation and being held back by our own fears and insecurities. The irregular structure, use of metaphor, repetition, and imagery all work together to create a powerful and memorable poem that continues to resonate with readers today.

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