If I can stop one Heart from breaking
I shall not live in vain
If I can ease one Life the Aching
Or cool one Pain
Or help one fainting Robin
Unto his Nest again
I shall not live in Vain.
I chose the poem If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking by Emily Dickinson. According to the website http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/155 she lived in almost total physical isolation from the outside world. This is odd to me that anyone could isolate themselves from the outside. It goes on to state that she spent a lot of time with her family. I also found on http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/155 that Emily Dickinson’s poetry “reflects her loneliness and the speakers of her poem generally live in a state of want, but her poems are also marked by the intimate recollection of inspirational moments which are decidedly life-giving and suggest the possibility of happiness.” Even though I was unsuccessful in finding much research or analysis by critics, I felt this was too good of a poem not to share.
When I read this poem, I wonder if she wanted to help someone, or maybe if someone helped her in this way and she wished to return the favor. She seems like she just wanted to make a difference in someone’s life whether it be shielding someone from a broken heart or something as small as putting a robin back in its nest. In order for many to feel their life is complete, they feel they must do something for someone. If only each of us would feel the same way, we could all help one another and who knows it might be life changing for us or whomever we help.
After reading the many definitions of vain, I believe that she meant “without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vain). After finding out that her poems are often of a state of want, I believe that she had the want to change someone’s life or help them and maybe then she would feel her life would be worth living. The saying of living a life in vain is a saying which most of us are familiar with. No one wants to live a life in vain, but are they willing to do something to change that or do they just think about doing something? If we only think about it what good are we doing for ourselves or anyone else?
2 comments:
Wow, so short a poem but yet so powerful. This is a poem I believe everyone should read each day and try to live up to those words and maybe this world would be a better place. Thank you for sharing this. This poem gives you a sense of purpose, that your life has some meaning even if it may seem insignificantly small. From reading your analysis Emily Dickinson seems to be saying live life to the fullest and not just for ourselves. Again I really like this poem and will read it everyday now. Thank you.
I think of the term altruism while reading this poem, to give of your self without the need of something in return. Possibly she was quite familiar with pain and wanted to help anyone avoid the feelings she has felt.
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