Blog Archives
A Short Analysis of Emily Dickinson’s ‘My River runs to thee’
‘My River runs to thee’ is a short poem, even by Dickinson’s brief, telegrammatic standards, but as with so many of Dickinson’s poems, it carries an arresting opening line, and reminds us that the river and the sea are endlessly linked in one great cycle.
My River runs to thee –
Blue Sea – Wilt welcome me?
My River wait reply.
Oh Sea – look graciously!
I’ll fetch thee Brooks
From spotted nooks –
Say Sea – take Me?
A love poem – perhaps even an erotic poem? Yes, but with a difference, since it’s also a nature poem, and Read the rest of this entry
A Short Analysis of Emily Dickinson’s ‘How happy is the little Stone’
‘How happy is the little Stone’ is a delightful and delighted lyric about the simple features of the natural world, written by the prolific poet Emily Dickinson (1830-86). This poem is more upbeat than some of Dickinson’s more famous poems, which take on themes such as death and depression, so we thought it worth sharing here.
How happy is the little Stone
That rambles in the Road alone,
And doesn’t care about Careers
And Exigencies never fears —
Whose Coat of elemental Brown
A passing Universe put on,
And independent as the Sun
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute Decree
In casual simplicity — Read the rest of this entry
A Short Analysis of Emily Dickinson’s ‘On a Columnar Self’
‘On a Columnar Self’ by Emily Dickinson does something which Emily Dickinson frequently does so well: it takes an abstract idea (the concept of the self) and renders it concrete and vivid, through a well-chosen metaphor.
On a Columnar Self—
How ample to rely
In Tumult—or Extremity—
How good the Certainty
That Lever cannot pry—
And Wedge cannot divide
Conviction—That Granitic Base—
Though None be on our Side—
Suffice Us—for a Crowd—
Ourself—and Rectitude—
And that Assembly—not far off
From furthest Spirit—God— Read the rest of this entry
