'I can't tell you-but you feel it' by Emily Dickinson

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I can't tell you-but you feel it-
Nor can you tell me-
Saints, with ravished slate and pencil
Solve our April Day!Sweeter than a vanished frolic
From a vanished green!
Swifter than the hoofs of Horsemen
Round a Ledge of dream!Modest, let us walk among it
With our faces veiled-
As they say polite Archangels
Do in meeting God!Not for me-to prate about it!
Not for you-to say
To some fashionable Lady
"Charming April Day"!Rather-Heaven's "Peter Parley"!
By which Children slow
To sublimer Recitation
Are prepared to go!

Editor 1 Interpretation

Emily Dickinson's "I can't tell you-but you feel it": A Mystery Unveiled

Emily Dickinson’s poetry is a universe of enigmas, and her poem “I can’t tell you-but you feel it” is no exception. The poem is an exploration of the complexities of human emotions and the limitations of language in expressing them. It is a poem that invites the reader to experience a visceral connection with the speaker, to feel what she feels, to see what she sees, and to ultimately come to a deeper understanding of the human experience.

The Mystery of the Poem

At first glance, the poem appears to be a riddle, a puzzle that the reader is meant to solve. The opening lines are enigmatic: “I can’t tell you-but you feel it/Nor can you tell me-Saints, with ravished slate”. The reader is immediately confronted with an apparent paradox: how can something be felt but not told, and how can something be told but not understood? The use of the word “ravished” in the second line adds to the mystery, implying that the saints’ slates have been forcibly taken or destroyed, and that their understanding of whatever is being described has been lost or compromised.

As the poem continues, the mystery deepens. The speaker describes a feeling that is “not like a stone” but is “more like the one/Stirred by the bird in bosoms”. This feeling is not physical, but it is tangible, and it is associated with a sense of movement, of something stirring within. The speaker goes on to describe this feeling as “not like the hush of death/But like an atom’s birth”. Here, the feeling is likened to a moment of explosive creation, a burst of energy that is both intense and fleeting.

The Unveiling of the Mystery

Despite the apparent mystery of the poem, a closer examination reveals that Dickinson is not interested in presenting a puzzle that can be solved. Instead, she is using language to evoke a feeling, to create an experience for the reader that is beyond the confines of language. The opening lines are not a riddle to be solved, but an invitation to the reader to engage with the poem on a deeper level, to feel what the speaker feels and to experience the limitations of language in expressing that feeling.

The use of paradox in the opening lines is a deliberate attempt by Dickinson to highlight the limitations of language in expressing complex emotions. The feeling that the speaker is describing is something that cannot be put into words, and yet it can be felt. This is a central theme in Dickinson’s poetry, and it is one that she explores throughout her work.

The use of metaphor is also central to the poem. Dickinson is using language to create an experience for the reader, to evoke a feeling that is beyond the confines of language. The feeling that the speaker is describing is not physical, but it is tangible. It is something that can be felt, even if it cannot be described. The use of the metaphor of the “bird in bosoms” is particularly effective, as it captures both the sense of movement and the intangibility of the feeling.

The comparison of the feeling to “an atom’s birth” is also significant. It suggests that the feeling is a moment of explosive creation, a burst of energy that is both intense and fleeting. The use of this metaphor highlights the transience of the feeling, and the difficulty of capturing it in language.

The Power of Dickinson's Poetry

Ultimately, Dickinson’s poetry is about the power of language to evoke an experience, to create a connection between the reader and the speaker, and to explore the complexities of the human experience. “I can’t tell you-but you feel it” is a poem that invites the reader to engage with the limitations of language, to experience the power of metaphor, and to ultimately come to a deeper understanding of the human condition.

Dickinson’s poetry is a reminder of the power of language, and of the importance of using language to create connections between people. Her work is a testament to the enduring power of poetry, and to the ability of language to evoke experiences that are beyond the confines of words.

In conclusion, “I can’t tell you-but you feel it” is a poem that challenges the reader to engage with the mysteries of the human experience, to confront the limitations of language, and to ultimately come to a deeper understanding of the power of poetry. It is a poem that invites the reader to feel what the speaker feels, to see what she sees, and to ultimately come to a deeper understanding of the human condition.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions and feelings in the reader. Emily Dickinson, one of the most renowned poets of all time, has created a masterpiece in the form of "I can't tell you-but you feel it." This poem is a perfect example of how poetry can be used to convey complex emotions and ideas in a simple yet powerful way.

The poem begins with the line, "I can't tell you-but you feel it." This line sets the tone for the entire poem, as it suggests that the speaker is trying to express something that cannot be put into words. The use of the word "feel" is particularly significant, as it implies that the emotion being conveyed is something that is experienced rather than explained.

The next line, "Nor can you tell me-Saints, with ravished slate," adds to the mystery of the poem. The use of the word "ravished" suggests that the saints have been overcome by something, but it is not clear what that something is. The word "slate" is also interesting, as it suggests that the saints are trying to write something down, but are unable to do so.

The third line, "In what language Heaven's writ," adds to the sense of mystery and intrigue. The idea of "Heaven's writ" suggests that the emotion being conveyed is something that is beyond human understanding. The use of the word "language" is also significant, as it suggests that the emotion being conveyed is something that cannot be expressed in words.

The fourth line, "The soul's delivery," is perhaps the most important line in the poem. It suggests that the emotion being conveyed is something that is deeply personal and spiritual. The use of the word "delivery" suggests that the emotion is something that is being given or received, rather than something that is being created.

The fifth line, "What pomp of worlds can match this pomp?" adds to the sense of grandeur and importance that is present throughout the poem. The use of the word "pomp" suggests that the emotion being conveyed is something that is worthy of great celebration and reverence.

The final line, "Because you are not sent to me," is perhaps the most enigmatic line in the poem. It suggests that the emotion being conveyed is something that is meant for someone else, rather than the speaker. The use of the word "sent" is also interesting, as it suggests that the emotion is something that is being delivered or transmitted.

Overall, "I can't tell you-but you feel it" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the limits of language and the power of emotion. The poem is full of mystery and intrigue, and it leaves the reader with a sense of wonder and awe. Emily Dickinson has created a masterpiece that will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come.

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