'How sick-to wait-in any place-but thine' by Emily Dickinson

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How sick-to wait-in any place-but thine-
I knew last night-when someone tried to twine-
Thinking-perhaps-that I looked tired-or alone-
Or breaking-almost-with unspoken pain-And I turned-ducal-

Editor 1 Interpretation

How sick-to wait-in any place-but thine by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Emily Dickinson was an American poet who lived in the mid-19th century, and her works are known for their unique style and unconventional themes. "How sick-to wait-in any place-but thine" is one of her more famous poems, and it is a poignant exploration of love and longing.

The poem consists of three quatrains, each with an ABAB rhyme scheme. The first two stanzas describe the speaker's feelings of sickness and longing as they wait for their lover to arrive. The final stanza offers a glimmer of hope, as the speaker imagines their lover arriving and bringing an end to their suffering.

The Theme of Love and Longing

At its core, "How sick-to wait-in any place-but thine" is a poem about love and longing. The speaker is clearly deeply in love with someone and is experiencing a kind of physical sickness in their absence.

The poem is full of vivid and visceral language that conveys the intensity of the speaker's emotions. Phrases like "my very heartstrings creak" and "my dizzy brain is numb" evoke a sense of physical discomfort and pain.

The repetition of "thine" throughout the poem also emphasizes the depth of the speaker's longing. They are not just waiting for anyone to arrive, but specifically for their lover.

The Use of Metaphor

One of the most striking features of "How sick-to wait-in any place-but thine" is its use of metaphor. The poem is full of comparisons that help to convey the speaker's feelings in a more vivid and memorable way.

For example, in the first stanza, the speaker describes how "the very stone look[s] queer" as they wait for their lover. This metaphor suggests a kind of disorientation and disconnection from the world around them.

Later in the poem, the speaker compares their longing to a "choking flame." This metaphor conveys the intensity and urgency of their desire, as well as the sense of being consumed by it.

The Role of Hope

Despite the overwhelming sense of longing and sickness that pervades the poem, there is also a glimmer of hope in the final stanza. The speaker imagines their lover arriving and bringing an end to their suffering.

This moment of hope is crucial, as it suggests that the speaker's love is not entirely one-sided. They are not simply pining for someone who will never appear, but rather holding out hope that their lover will eventually arrive.

The Importance of Form

Finally, it is worth considering the importance of form in "How sick-to wait-in any place-but thine." The poem's strict rhyme scheme and meter help to create a sense of order and structure amid the speaker's chaotic emotions.

At the same time, the poem's use of enjambment - where lines run on into each other without punctuation - creates a sense of flow and movement. This helps to convey the sense of longing and restlessness that the speaker is experiencing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "How sick-to wait-in any place-but thine" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of love and longing. Through its use of metaphor, vivid language, and strict form, it conveys the intensity of the speaker's emotions in a way that is both memorable and affecting.

As readers, we are left with a sense of the speaker's deep yearning for their lover, as well as their enduring hope that they will one day arrive and bring an end to their suffering. It is this sense of hope that ultimately makes the poem so powerful, as it suggests that love and connection are possible even in the midst of pain and longing.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

How Sick-to Wait-in Any Place-but Thine: 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 to this day. One of her most famous poems, "How sick-to wait-in any place-but thine," is a powerful and emotional piece that explores themes of love, longing, and separation. In this analysis, we will take a closer look at this classic poem and explore its meaning, structure, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the line "How sick-to wait-in any place-but thine," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The speaker is clearly in a state of distress, and the use of the word "sick" suggests that this is a physical as well as an emotional condition. The phrase "any place-but thine" also implies a sense of longing and a desire to be with someone specific, which sets up the central theme of the poem.

The second line of the poem, "I knew last night-when someone tried to twine," is a bit more ambiguous, but it suggests that the speaker had a recent encounter with someone who was not the person they were waiting for. The use of the word "twine" implies a physical touch or embrace, which further emphasizes the speaker's desire for intimacy and connection.

The third line of the poem, "Thinking-perhaps-if I-begged long and low," introduces the idea of begging as a means of getting what the speaker wants. This line also sets up a contrast between the speaker's desire for intimacy and their inability to attain it, which creates a sense of tension and conflict within the poem.

The fourth line of the poem, "I would take thine-hands-and just-tell thee so," is a direct expression of the speaker's desire to be with the person they are waiting for. The use of the word "hands" suggests a desire for physical touch and connection, while the phrase "just-tell thee so" implies a need for emotional intimacy and communication.

The fifth line of the poem, "But-I-was afraid-and-started-at-every-sound," introduces a sense of fear and anxiety into the poem. The speaker is clearly afraid of something, which creates a sense of tension and unease. This line also sets up a contrast between the speaker's desire for intimacy and their fear of the consequences of pursuing that desire.

The sixth line of the poem, "And-wished-for-the-night-which-closed-me-round," suggests that the speaker is in a state of isolation and darkness. The use of the word "closed" implies a sense of confinement or entrapment, which further emphasizes the speaker's sense of separation and longing.

The seventh and final line of the poem, "And-now-I-am-sick-for-every-sight-and-sound," brings the poem full circle and reinforces the central theme of the piece. The speaker is still sick, still longing, and still waiting for the person they desire. The use of the word "every" suggests a sense of desperation and a desire for any kind of connection or intimacy.

In terms of structure, "How sick-to wait-in any place-but thine" is a six-line poem with a consistent meter and rhyme scheme. Each line contains ten syllables, and the rhyme scheme is ABABCB. This consistent structure creates a sense of stability and order within the poem, which contrasts with the emotional turmoil and conflict that the speaker is experiencing.

In terms of literary devices, Dickinson uses a number of techniques to create a sense of tension and conflict within the poem. One of the most notable is the use of contrast, which is evident in the contrast between the speaker's desire for intimacy and their fear of pursuing that desire. This contrast creates a sense of tension and conflict within the poem, which makes it more emotionally engaging and impactful.

Another literary device that Dickinson uses is repetition, which is evident in the repeated use of the word "sick" throughout the poem. This repetition reinforces the central theme of the piece and creates a sense of emotional intensity and urgency.

Overall, "How sick-to wait-in any place-but thine" is a powerful and emotional poem that explores themes of love, longing, and separation. Through its use of structure and literary devices, Dickinson creates a sense of tension and conflict that makes the poem both engaging and impactful. This classic piece of poetry continues to resonate with readers today, and its themes and emotions are just as relevant now as they were when it was first written.

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