To me, the two stanzas reflect almost a nun's journey. Not in the obvious, direct manner but in the image of Ms. Dickinson as an austere person who upends the conventions of the subject matter by divesting the supposed grandeur and romanticism out of the man-woman union. We all know that Ms. Emily had already transcended mortal conventions within her lifetime. She was spiritually connected to her muse, to her rich inner life. Hence, this poem is a homage to her inner life where her verses reflect the connection with the greater purpose beyond holy matrimony allotted for women of her era especially. Her austere life and inner purity shine through here. I connect with her poetic omnibus precisely because I've always felt she's my soul-sister.
Speaker has been betrothed to her free will. But to be faithful to the Host she has to give that up: Thy will not mine.
To me, the two stanzas reflect almost a nun's journey. Not in the obvious, direct manner but in the image of Ms. Dickinson as an austere person who upends the conventions of the subject matter by divesting the supposed grandeur and romanticism out of the man-woman union.
We all know that Ms. Emily had already transcended mortal conventions within her lifetime. She was spiritually connected to her muse, to her rich inner life. Hence, this poem is a homage to her inner life where her verses reflect the connection with the greater purpose beyond holy matrimony allotted for women of her era especially. Her austere life and inner purity shine through here.
I connect with her poetic omnibus precisely because I've always felt she's my soul-sister.