November 5, 2008


"There Is Another Sky "There is another sky,
Ever serene and fair,
And there is another sunshine,
Though it be darkness there;
Never mind faded forests, Austin,
Never mind silent fields -
Here is a little forest,
Whose leaf is ever green;
Here is a brighter garden,
Where not a frost has been;
In its unfading flowers
I hear the bright bee hum:
Prithee, my brother,
Into my garden come!

Analysis/Comment

A poem like this is a typical ABCB (with a few exceptions) rhyme scheme poem by Emily Dickinson. The poet’s usual status is depression, and writing poems often cheered her up. In the first half of the poem, the speaker is referring to a boy named Austin, telling him to forget about the negative events of life because there are so many happy ones already waiting for him. Life can be a paradise if one accepts to try new adventures or start a new one. In the second stanza, the speaker is talking to Prithee, apparently his/her brother. The speaker talks about this garden, which represents paradise or the perfect life where pain, suffering, or any other negative aspects of life, so, he is invited to restart a new life. This part of the poem could be an allusion to the Garden of Eden (or Paradise), the garden God created; perfect in all aspects.

This poem is written for readers who have the same problem as the poet does: depression. Emily Dickinson comforts herself and those who are not enjoying their life by introducing new ideas and ways of adding spice to our existence (by writing). Entering a new world can help us realize that life is not bad after all, and we should always get the best out of everything.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Austin is her brother. It is him she is talking to throughout the whole poem. Prithee means prey thee, so the line is 'prey thee, my brother, Into my garden come!' She is praying for her brohter to come in to her world of peace and tranquilty rather than stay in his dark one.