Stevenson


 * Emily Dickinson **

Emily Dickinson was born in 1830 in the town of Amherst, Massachusetts. During her life she was very much a loner and did not normally venture out of her home. Her father, Edward Dickinson, was very involved in state and national politics. Her works where not published until after her death in 1886.

=Because I could not stop for Death (712)= Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage held but just Ourselves – And Immortality.

We slowly drove – He knew no haste And I had put away My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility –

We passed the School, where Children strove At Recess – in the Ring – We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain – We passed the Setting Sun –

Or rather – He passed us – The Dews drew quivering and chill – For only Gossamer, my Gown – My Tippet – only Tulle –

We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground – The Roof was scarcely visible – The Cornice – in the Ground –

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses' Heads Were toward Eternity –

Analysis: In “Because I could not stop for Death” the main focus is Death itself. In the first stanza of the poem it can be interpreted as meaning that people are so busy that they simply don’t have time to die however, it will also catch up to you at some point. The last two lines also describe that nothing from this world is taken with you in death. In the second stanza of the poem, the line “He knew no haste” shows that Death will take his time has he takes you from this world. In the third Stanza it depicts that your life will be reviewed or flashed before your eyes as death takes you. The three stages of life are shown as your childhood represented by the school, your working adulthood as the fields of grazing grain, and your later adulthood years as the setting sun. The forth stanza is unclear as to what exactly is trying to be shown or depicted. However, the gown mentioned to be talking what the subject is going to be buried in or what he or she actually was in when Death to them. In the fifth stanza the final resting place of the person is being discussed. The “Swelling of the Ground” is a very direct description of the mound of soil that is created when a person is buried beneath it. The final stanza reveals that when one is dead time no longer is relevant. One day and a century cannot be distinguished apart. To me this is a very accurate description of Death and its characteristics. We cannot control death it does as it wishes and will come when it wishes.

Ralph Waldo Emerson


Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in 1803 in Boston Massachusetts. He was a Harvard graduate and later became a minister. However this did not last long. He resigned shortly after starting because his young wife had died from tuberculosis. Emerson then became known for disagreeing with traditional ideas became part of the transcendental movement. He later remarried and in 1882 died of pneumonia. =A Nation’s Strength= What makes a nation's pillars high And it's foundations strong? What makes it mighty to defy The foes that round it throng?

It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand Go down in battle shock; Its shafts are laid on sinking sand, Not on abiding rock.

Is it the sword? Ask the red dust Of empires passed away; The blood has turned their stones to rust, Their glory to decay.

And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown Has seemed to nations sweet; But God has struck its luster down In ashes at his feet.

Not gold but only men can make A people great and strong; Men who for truth and honor's sake Stand fast and suffer long.

Brave men who work while others sleep, Who dare while others fly... They build a nation's pillars deep And lift them to the sky. Analysis: This poem, “A Nation’s Strength,” is a very straight forward poem which can be taken at face value. In the first stanza the questions are asked. “What makes a nation’s pillars high,” foundations good, and mighty. These questions have been pondered since the beginning of civilization. Many people have many ideas as to what the correct answers are to those questions. In the second stanza gold is determined not to be a gold item to build a nation around. Gold symbolizes money. It is shown that if a nation is built on gold then it will slowly sink as in sinking sand. When in sinking sand the one more moves and tries to get out of it the faster they sink. In the third stanza the sword is the object a nation is built around and once again it is shown that it is a poor choice. The sword is a symbol of violence and war. It is shown that no matter how much blood is spilt it cannot be the only thing to keep a nation together. It will fail and “decay” as past empires have. The fourth stanza uses pride as the building material. This seems to be the most reasonable choice so far and work for a short time. However, when the nation starts to believe that it is above God he has “struck its luster down” so that it is no longer on top. In the fifth and sixth stanza the best material for building a successful nation is revealed, men, but not just any type of men. It must be built by truthful, honorable and brave men. It is shown that “They build a nation’s pillars deep.” This will allow the nation to rise high and remain stable. To me this poem describes the basic principles that our nation was built on and is governed by to this day.

Walt Whitman


Walt Whitman was born in 1819 on Long Island, New York. He taught himself to read and write and later became a teacher. He then started a newspaper and soon became editor of many different newspapers. He moved to New Orleans at one point and had his first contact with slavery there. He later returned to Long Island and started another newspaper. He later moved to Washington, D.C. to care for his brother who was wounded in the civil war. Whitman died in 1892. =America= Centre of equal daughters, equal sons, All, all alike endear'd, grown, ungrown, young or old, Strong, ample, fair, enduring, capable, rich, Perennial with the Earth, with Freedom, Law and Love, A grand, sane, towering, seated Mother, Chair'd in the adamant of Time.

Analysis: This poem, “America,” is basically describing how America is a melting pot of people and culture as well as being a lasting piece of history. In the first line the daughters and sons of America are stated to be equal. This was not a common idea in America at this time. African Americans were still being oppressed at that time along with women not have rights to vote and expected to only stay at the house to do chores and raise the family. The second line depicts how they are all alike no matter what. They could be a new born child shown by “ungrown, young” or a older adult depicted by “ grown” and “old.” The third line describes how we are all alike. This list covers most of the virtues that are typically desired to have. In the fourth line it is stated that this is a lasting place with three items. It is known to be everlasting place because “Perennial with the Earth” means permanent, constant, lasting with the earth. It will not end. Three items are also included in the line that humans are always striving to obtain: freedom, law, and love. The fifth line describes America as a magnificent “seated Mother.” This mother is special however. She is a “grand” lady whom is “sane” and “towering.” This sets her apart from the rest and makes her special and more spectacular than the rest. In the final line once again describes how it is everlasting. To fully understand the line one must know synonyms of the word adamant. An adamant can also be described as unyielding, unbending, immovable, unwavering, and resolute. This shows that time cannot be broken and America is forever embedded in it. To me this poem means that America is simply a wonderful place to be and to be a part of.

William Carlos Williams


William Carlos Williams was born in 1883 in Rutherford, New Jersey. He began to write at an early age. He later obtained his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. Most of his works were published in magazines. William Williams was a member of the imagist movement. He invented a new style of writing in titled poetic which centers around everyday life. In his later years he became a mentor Allen Ginsberg and the Beats. He died in 1963. =A Love Song= What have I to say to you When we shall meet? Yet— I lie here thinking of you.

The stain of love Is upon the world. Yellow, yellow, yellow, It eats into the leaves, Smears with saffron The horned branches that lean Heavily Against a smooth purple sky.

There is no light— Only a honey-thick stain That drips from leaf to leaf And limb to limb Spoiling the colours Of the whole world.

I am alone. The weight of love Has buoyed me up Till my head Knocks against the sky.

See me! My hair is dripping with nectar— Starlings carry it On their black wings. See, at last My arms and my hands Are lying idle.

How can I tell If I shall ever love you again As I do now?

Analysis: WARNING, the content of this analysis could be found offensive. At a first glance many people see the poem “A Love Song” as a sappy poem talking about love and how some is missing the one he or she loves. However, after looking more deeply into the poem a new way of thinking through the poem can be rationalized. This poem is about someone wishing to love someone else but it is more about making love to them. However this special someone is not accusable as seen from the first stanza. Therefore the person whom is telling the poem must improvise. The body of the poem describes the event in great detail but at the same time in a more polite way than just coming out and saying it out right. The stain of love, which is talked about in the second stanza is described to be yellow. This is not the normal white color but can be ejected when combined with a high sulfur diet and a prolonged elapsed time. The act was done in the dark as describe in the beginning of Stanza three. Has the author is doing his or her pleasuring they get an emotional high where “The weight of love Has Buoyed me up” meaning that it has lifted the spirits of author allowing him or her to feel like she is floating. The deed is completed by the end of the fifth stanza. “My arms and hands Are lying idle” shows that the author is now resting and no longer moving. A since of doubt is established at the end of the poem when the author questions if he or she will see the one they just made love to, in their head, ever again or have the opportunity to feel the same as they do now. To me this is a poem about a person how is a lone and longs for the love of another.

Carl Sandburg


Carl Sandburg was born in 1878 in Galesburg Illinois. Growing up his family did not have much money and Carl was forced to quit school at the age of thirteen to begin working. Later Carl would reenroll in school at Lombard College in his home town. He later became an editorial writer for the Chicago Daily News. Many of Sandburg’s poems are a celebration of working America. Carl Sandburg died in 1967. =At a Window= Give me hunger, O you gods that sit and give The world its orders. Give me hunger, pain and want, Shut me out with shame and failure From your doors of gold and fame, Give me your shabbiest, weariest hunger!

But leave me a little love, A voice to speak to me in the day end, A hand to touch me in the dark room Breaking the long loneliness. In the dusk of day-shapes Blurring the sunset, One little wandering, western star Thrust out from the changing shores of shadow. Let me go to the window, Watch there the day-shapes of dusk And wait and know the coming Of a little love.

Analysis: The Poem “At a Window” is about Love and how it is the only thing the author needs. In the first stanza the author is telling the gods that they can give him hunger. It can be painful it does not matter. He also tells them to make him be shamed and a failure for he does not care about that either. Lastly he tells them to make him poor for he does not care for that either. However in the second stanza he tells the gods to leave him one good thing. That one thing is just a little love. To the author, love is all he really cares about. To him loving someone means that you are not along. You have a person to speak to and a touch of a hand. Both of these eliminate any loneliness there maybe. Towards the end of the poem it becomes more difficult to understand what the author is trying to get across to the reader. I believe that the one wandering star his the author’s true love. However it is far away and he must wait for it to return. To me this poem shows that there is only one thing that somebody really needs in life. That one thing is love. However it may not be the love of another person. It could be the love of a god or maybe even a pet. Just having someone or something to love and be loved by is more gratifying than anything else in this world.