I've
heard an Organ talk, sometimes –
In
a Cathedral Aisle,
And
understood no word it said –
Yet
held my breath, the while –
And
risen up—and gone away,
A
more Bernardine Girl –
Yet
– knew not what was done to me
In
that old Chapel Aisle.
-
F211 (1861) 183
It
was William Congreve in his tragedy The Mourning Bride (1697) who said, “Musick has
Charms to sooth a savage Breast,” and whether or not Dickinson’s breast would
count as savage she felt a transcendent calm. Unfortunately, the speaker of the
lines (Almeria – and in fact these are the first lines of the play) goes on to
say that while music soothes even savage breasts it doesn’t soothe hers. Here’s
the pertinent passage:
Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast,
To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.
I've read, that things inanimate have mov'd,
And, as with living Souls, have been inform'd,
By Magick Numbers and persuasive Sound.
What then am I? Am I more senseless grown
Than Trees, or Flint? O force of constant Woe!
'Tis not in Harmony to calm my Griefs.
Anselmo sleeps, and is at Peace; last Night
The silent Tomb receiv'd the good Old King;
He and his Sorrows now are safely lodg'd
Within its cold, but hospitable Bosom.
Why am not I at Peace?
Perhaps Almeria hadn’t heard a majestic organ echoing through the
vaulted ceilings and alcoves of a cathedral, which is a place designed to
inspire spiritual awe and peace. Now the church Dickinson actually attended
when she did attend was not a cathedral but a lovely and no doubt inspirational
Congregational church. Dickinson did travel a bit, at least within neighboring
states and so no doubt she visited more traditional cathedrals in cities such
as Boston.
However, she may have been using “Cathedral” because she
uses “Chapel” at the end of the poem and, more importantly, “Cathedral” has the
advantage of syllables and stress. The line is quiet and iambic. At the end,
“old Chapel Aisle,” uses two juxtaposed accented syllables to draw out the
sound, emphasizing the oldness.
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The Congregational Church of Amherst that Dickinson attended |
Ironically, within a few years of writing this poem Dickinson
quit going to church altogether. Although she reflects quite a bit of Christian
imagery in her poetry and certainly searches its themes, she was unable to
commit to the Christian pledge that so many of her friends and family signed.
By way of explanation she wrote that "I feel that the world holds a
predominant place in my affections. I do not feel that I could give up all for
Christ, were I called to die" (Letter 13).
But back to this poem. We find the poet holding her
breath inside a cathedral while the organ plays – except to the poet the music
is so powerfully communicative or at least evocative that she says she heard it
“talk.” As if listening to a foreign-language speaker, though, she cannot make
out the words. But when the music is over she is subtly changed – a “more
Bernardine Girl” – but without knowing how that change came about. Just the
power of the music. St. Bernard (who knows why they named a dog after the
esteemed 11th century French abbot) was known for his austere
simplicity and for instituting strict austerity in his abby. Moved by the
music, the poet also wants to live in greater simplicity.
She was probably molested by someone. I was listening to Aaron Copeland's Twelve Poems by Emily Dickinson. I'm just assuming maybe this is what happened to her.
ReplyDeleteMs. K, I agree with your suggestion of a choice. I think the poet's spirituality and definition of the word "love" are both evolving though she doesn't yet know all the answers.
ReplyDelete