God permits industrious Angels
–
Afternoons – to play –
I met one – forgot my schoolmates –
All – for Him –
straightway –
God calls home – the Angels – promptly –
At the Setting Sun –
I missed mine – how dreary –
Marbles –
After playing Crown!
F245
(1861) 231
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Game of marbles from around the time of this poem, by Christian Schussele |
God is very much a strict
father in this poem. If his angels work hard he allows them a bit of play in
the afternoon. Interestingly, the angels – or at least one angel – play with
human children. Dickinson claims, rather audaciously, that she met an angel
herself one day. Naturally she “forgot” her schoolmates for the opportunity of
playing with an angel. Nowadays we’d be a bit suspicious if our little girl
came home and said an Angel had dropped by the school at recess or after school
and she’d played with him. But those were simpler times.
God
doesn’t leave the Angels too much free time, however. At sunset they must go
home – “promptly”!
Playtime
just wasn’t the same anymore for the young poet. She missed the angel (whom she
claims as “mine”) and, sadly, playing marbles with the other children just wasn’t
the same anymore. In fact, it was “dreary.” What did she play with the angel, if not
marbles? Why, “Crown,” of course. Did the angel have a crown in his pocket to
entice the little girl to play? Or
perhaps it was the sailor’s gambling dice game, “Crown and Anchor,” and the
angel took the little girl’s penny candy money.
At
any rate, Dickinson wrote several poems where in the after life common folks
will wear crowns. Perhaps it all started back in her youth…
I wonder if this is ED saying how conversing with herself is more interesting to her intellect than her surrounding aquintenses, and she is beginning to lose interest in their company. She has no peers, and withdrawal looms ahead? Too far fetched?
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