I dwell in Possibility-
A fairer House than Prose-
More numerous of Windows-
Superior-for Doors-
Of Chambers as the Cedars-
Impregnable of Eye-
And for an Everlasting Roof
The Gambrels of the Sky-
Of Visitors-the fairest-
For Occupation-This-
The spreading wide my narrow Hands
To gather Paradise-
In "I dwell in Possibility," Emily Dickinson provides the reader a chance to understand her affinity for poetry versus commonplace writing. She exalts poetry through an extended metaphor which compares poetry to a house. Particularly, Dickinson suggests that poetry is, "A fairer House than Prose," with more windows and doors as well as a sturdier build, which welcomes the fairest guests. The first line ("I dwell in Possibility-") leads the reader to believe that Dickinson feels so attached to the clever possibilities of poetry that she lives through them. In the last three lines, Dickinson references the job of a poem. The poet employs a poem to maintain the efficiently juxtaposed diction that captures the pure essence of the subject at hand. I agree with the author in that poetry is an ultimate form of expression. I too believe that ordinary vernacular stands no chance to be more appreciated than an eloquent and effective poem.
I think she is basically saying that she can use poems to create worlds that are better than the one that we live in.
ReplyDeleteI'm picking up what you're putting down, Howard. It is evident that Emily Dickinson much prefers the simplicity and purity of poetry over everyday speech and writing because of the beauty that poetry can create image-wise as well as thought-wise.
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