Whole Pools of it—
I'm used to that—
But the least push of Joy
Breaks up my feet—
And I tip—drunken—
Let no Pebble—smile—
'Twas the New Liquor—
That was all!
Power is only Pain—
Stranded, thro' Discipline,
Till Weights—will hang—
Give Balm—to Giants—
And they'll wilt, like Men—
Give Himmaleh—
They'll Carry—Him!
F 312
(1862) 252
Dickinson
gets at a truth here that many of us have experienced. We can hold up in
difficult circumstances, but let anyone come with a bit of sympathy and we
crumble. It might be therapeutic, but it sure breaks the stoic stance.
She
begins with the image of herself pushing through grief as if wading through a
deep pool. That’s what she’s used to. But let a little happiness come her way
and it trips her up as if she’s drunk. She finds this a bit funny, though, and
warns the rocks not to laugh at her. “”Twas the New Liquor” that caused it.
That’s the problem.
She
changes mood in the second stanza which is a contemplation of power and
strength. The stanza contains two epigraph: Power is only Pain— / Stranded,
thro’ Discipline, / Till Weights—will hang; and “Give Balm—to Giants— / And
they’ll wilt, like Men— / Give Himmaleh— / They’ll Carry—Him!
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The
second epigram says that what wilts power is balm for the pain. The strongest
person—a Giant!— can carry a burden heavy as the Himalayas. But as soon as you
try to assuage and soothe him, he becomes as weak as an ordinary mortal.
Thank you again...
ReplyDeletevery helpful 👍
ReplyDeleteSo helpful!
ReplyDeleteI love your take on the second stanza. Such a sublime thought.
ReplyDeleteStanza 1: “Keep your eyes on the prize.” Alice Wine.1949
ReplyDeleteStanza 2: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Knute Rockne (1888-1931)
ED anticipated many cliches with this poem, but Alice Wine and Knute Rockne didn’t plagiarize.