"My Life Had Stood - A Loaded Gun -"

My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun -
In Corners - till a Day
The Owner passed - identified -
And carried Me away -
And now We roam in Sovereign Woods -
And now We hunt the Doe -
And every time I speak for Him -
The Mountains straight reply -

And do I smile, such cordial light
Upon the Valley glow -
It is as a Vesuvian face
Had let its pleasure through -

And when at Night - Our good Day done -
I guard My Master's Head -
'Tis better than the Eider-Duck's
Deep Pillow - to have shared -

To foe of His - I'm deadly foe -
None stir the second time -
On whom I lay a Yellow Eye -
Or an emphatic Thumb -

Though I than He - may longer live
He longer must - than I -
For I have but the power to kill,
Without--the power to die--

Analysis/Comment:

"My Life had stood-a Loaded Gun-" is written in alternating iambic tetrameter and tri-meter. The poem is in lyrical form and the tone of the poem is clearly and strongly of passion.

There are several metaphors, personifications and certainly a lot of allegories that help readers comprehend on the "meaning" of the entire poem. For instance, the "gun" could represent the language the poet used as a tool to create this literary work. So the "act" of creating it, is the gun's expression. The “doe” which is killed, symbolizes women writers that sacrifice part of themselves to write. The “gun” for example, personifies human traits, whereas the title is a metaphor that explains how her life is compared directly to a gun, representing power and strength. Last, but not least, the poem could be entirely considered an allegory.

First of all, the speaker shows how the poet rejects the easier life and how the power and control coming from the speaker, give her the joy and satisfaction. In the last stanza, the poet simply expresses confusion and chaos from her thoughts.

In this poem, Emily Dickinson gives vent to her own feelings, mocks and describes a traditional and typical marriage and women’s roles during the 19^th century.

Links

http://www.123helpme.com/preview.asp?id=14882

http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/gun.html

http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Analysis-Dickinsons-Loaded-Gun-Poem/172452

https://www.fratfiles.com/essays/123987.html