I reckon - when I count at all

I reckon-when I count at all-
First-Poets-Then the Sun-
Then Summer-Then the Heaven of God-
And then-the List is done-

But, looking back-the First so seems
To Comprehend the Whole-
The Others look a needless Show-
So I write-Poets-All-

Their Summer-lasts a Solid Year-
They can afford a Sun
The East-would deem extravagant-
And if the Further Heaven-

Be Beautiful as they prepare
For Those who worship Them-
It is too difficult a Grace-
To justify the Dream-



Emily Dickinson expresses her passion for poetry in "I reckon-when I count at all" through her comparison of poets to the sun, summer, and Heaven. The speaker deems poets sovereign to each of the aforementioned comparisons, and justifies this claim in the lines,
           "But, looking back-the First so seems
            To Comprehend the Whole-
            The Others look a needless Show-
            So I write - Poets - All."
In the next stanza, Dickinson points out a poet's ability to immortalize and glorify the summer, the sun's extravagance, or Heaven through the juxtaposition of words. This ability is what allows poets to surpass the importance of these other beauties. Dickinson's diction includes words such as "extravagant," "beautiful," and "grace," that emphasize her veneration of poetry. As a reader, I am interested by Emily Dickinson's fascination with her work. Because of the seemingly insurmountable love of poetry Dickinson communicates, I wonder, "What exactly is it that I am or can be so passionate about?"