Emily Dickinson's Poetry

[alnieve]

Okay, I am doing a project on Emily Dickinson. For part of the project, I've selected a few of her poems and I am going to have interpretations from different people. That's where you all come in. I was hoping that you could tell me your own interpretations of the poems I've selected. Try to tell me what you think the poem means.



I would really appreciate it if you all could help me out. Thanks!





Poem #1



The brain is wider than the sky,

For, out them side by side,

The one the other will include

With ease, and you beside.



The brain is deeper than the sea,

For, hold them, blue to blue,

The one the other will absorb,

As sponges, buckets do.



The brain is just the weight of God,

For, lift them, pound for pound,

And they will differ, if they do,

As syllable from sound.





Poem #2



I many times thought peace had come,

When peace was far away;

As wrecked men deem they sight the land

At centre of the sea,



And struggle slacker, but to prove,

As hopelessly as I,

How many the fictitious shores

Before the harbor lie.





Poem #3



Pain has an element of blank;

It cannot recollect

When it began, or if there were

A day when it was not.



It has no future but itself,

Its infinite realms contain

Its past, enlightened to perceive

New periods of pain.

[Paris In Flames]

Oh goody. Laugh at me love, laugh at me. I'm gonna take a crack at them, but I think they're totally wrong. And it's really late right now...hmm...



#1...



I think it's talking about knowledge, and different ways that people gain knowledge. The first paragraph discusses how you can gain knowledge through your surroundings, the second is though self motivation, and the third is through religion. But in the thrid one, it talks about the different knowledge gained through different religions....for example, you learn differently about god if you're Christian, Mormon, etc etc etc.



#2...



The second discusses her longing for world peace, but as sailors used to think they'd seen shore, everytime she thinks mankind is getting closer for complete tranquility, we find that we're nowhere near it.



#3...



I think it's discussing life changing senarios. We only remember the change, but not what started it in the first place. The metamorphasis allows us to look back and see ourselves before we changed, and we appreciate it. But, we as a mankind, will always continue changing. Sometiems for the better, sometimes for the worst.



Oh my god that's wrong.



I'm sorry.



Cheers,



Jenna

[alnieve]

Thanks, Jenna. No...there really aren't any wrong answers, everyone interprets them differently. That's what will help me is different interpretations of people.



So...anyone else? Just tell me whatever you think about the poems, I don't care what it is. I just need your guys' help.



Thanks!



Amanda