Dickinson

613

They shut me up in Prose --
As when a little Girl
They put me in the Closet --
Because they liked me "still" --
Still! Could themself have peeped --
And seen my Brain -- go round --
They might as wise have lodged a Bird
For Treason -- in the Pound --
Himself has but to will
And easy as a Star
Abolish his Captivity --
And laugh -- No more have I --

They shut me up in Prose --

Prose? Isn't that her strength? Why is there so much emphasis at the beginning on the word Prose? Was this the only way that people were able to communicate with the poet?

As when a little Girl

She is no longer a "little Girl." How are her surroundings during this time? why are they treating her like she is a young person when she is set to become an established poet? There may be something she is wanting to say with the choosing of the gender specified, age as well.

They put me in the Closet --

Literally? Most likely they were not allowing Dickinson to fully establish herself during this time. She was not allowed to cully put her creativity in her works at the time.

Because they liked me "still" --

Did they not like her before? Probably there was some liking in her character but there was something that wasn't approved in society. Was she working towards being "liked?

"Still! Could themself have peeped --

At this point she is starting to lose it. So much commotion concerning her character is getting the best of her. Why does it seemed as if she is being closely watched?

And seen my Brain -- go round --

It seems as if she has had enough. There might have been so much already going on in her life and with so much influence, it is bound to affect her. People around her might be noticing her demise.

They might as wise have lodged a Bird

She will not give up in her quest to become free. She is trying to express that idea, whether people get it or not.

For Treason -- in the Pound --

Treason? What is she implying? Is the situation worst than what one thinks? What is her life really like?

Himself has but to will

Is she being held back by something, or someone? Will? Is there something that she might be waiting for?

And easy as a Star

What is easy about a star? Could she be staring at one and looking at the arrangement of the stars and thinking about their evolution?

Abolish his Captivity --

WHo is he? There is something that is not yet clear on what Dickinson is trying to express. She is very demanding in this phrase, as if she is saying this to a foe.

And laugh -- No more have I --

With all of what she has said before, seeming to be serious, why would there be a need to laugh? Is freedom a joke? Is the situation a joke?

 

When looking back at the poem, what i find interesting is that there are several underlying factors that arise. Although I'm not sure on what  that may be, Dickinson is detailing unknown factors to the reader.