"The Mumur of a Bee"THE murmur of a bee

A witchcraft yieldeth me.
If any ask me why,
'Twere easier to die
Than tell.

The red upon the hill
Taketh away my will;
If anybody sneer,
Take care, for God is here,
That's all.

The breaking of the day
Addeth to my degree;
If any ask me how,
Artist, who drew me so,
Must tell!

Analysis/ Comment

As usual, nature is again used as a metaphor to describe the poet’s life. Emily Dickinson explains how magic interferes, “ pollutes”, and stops her imagination, creativity and her freedom to write poems. Next, she states that enlightenment makes her lazy to write poems on her own. Then, if people laugh or judge her work, she would have God’s help to give her strength to continue. Finally, Dickinson concludes claiming that when her inspirations add to her knowledge, the “Artist” would guide her to write. If one knows what he/she wants to do, no matter how people try to influence you (with their ideas), always stick to your ideas; because that way, one would realize that it is actually oneself that is guiding themselves.

In the 1^st and 2^nd stanza of “The Murmur of the Bee”, carries a rhyme scheme of AABB, but ends with the 3^rd stanza without any signs of rhymes. Metaphors is an evident element of this poem because, for example, the “murmur of the bee”(L1, S1) refers to actually rumors of people criticizing Emily’s work; “witchcraft” is the magic that stops her imagination; “the red upon a hill” in the 2^nd stanza is afternoon etc. Also, the poet cuts or adds syllables to words in order to make each verse contain exactly 6 syllables, except for the last verses of the 3 stanzas that only include two syllables.

"Heart, We Will Forget Him!"
HEART, we will forget him!

You and I, to-night!
You may forget the warmth he gave,
I will forget the light.

When you have done, pray tell me,
That I my thoughts may dim;
Haste! lest while you're lagging,
I may remember him!

Analysis/ Comment

“Heart, We Will Forget Him!” has a strict rhyme scheme of ABCB with no exceptions is a poem written to forget probably about a romantic love the poet experienced. She is trying to tell her heart to erase memories about the “he” the poet is referring to in the poem. Emily Dickinson knows that without the heart’s cooperation, she would never be able to forget her love. The heart is supposed to forget the warmth “he” carved into it. While the speaker had to forget the light he produced to light up her days. Once the heart finished, it should pray and hope that the poet’s thoughts about him would become blurry until it fades away. All this should be done quickly because if the heart can’t accomplish its tasks, she may recall him again (which could lead her to love). Practically, the heart which is personified in this poem, takes care of the feelings the lover transmits to the poet, while the poet is in charged of the thoughts and memories of the lover’s image.

"A Light Exists in Spring"
A light exists in spring

Not present on the year
At any other period.
When March is scarcely here

A color stands abroad
On solitary hills
That science cannot overtake,
But human naturefeels.

It waits upon the lawn;
It shows the furthest tree
Upon the furthest slope we know;
It almost speaks to me.

Then, as horizons step,
Or noons report away,
Without the formula of sound,
It passes, and we stay:

A quality of loss
Affecting our content,
As trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a sacrament.

Analysis/ Comment

This poem explains how science needs to be part of the human perception in order to explain certain “truths” In a strict quatrain series, with few exceptions, in an iambic triameter. This is because some times, it is enough to have faith, like in religion. Although not in every stanza the rhyme scheme is exact, the whole poem still carries an ABCB rhyme scheme. Unlike her usual poems, this one does not include dashes, it has complete, clear sentences, plus, it’s heavily rhythmic with a regular meter.

The “Light” which is capitalized, is actually referring to Jesus Christ, a nd spring Easter, although when March is mentioned, the light loses the allusion the Light’s also an allusion to Moses in the book of Exodus; all this is trying to show that God, apart from being what he created, he’s also the idea of the universal truth (which is not verifiable). It’s just an issue of believing and feeling, NOT of proving with scientific methods. In the last 2 stanzas, how the poet describing time, displays how its progress represents the “Light’s” presence. Also, the loss of light stated in the 3^rd verse of the last stanza, is another allusion to the Bible (when Jesus got angry seeing the temple becoming a market). Last but least, another important point of this poem is how nature can gain one’s spiritual understanding; even though it is not scientifically verifiable, it doesn’t make the “Light” less valuable.

Links
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1226587/a_review_of_emily_dickinsons_a_light.html?page=3&cat=38