After great pain, a formal feeling comes - A poem by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson - After great pain, a formal feeling comes

After great pain, a formal feeling comes --
The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs --
The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore,
And Yesterday, or Centuries before?

The Feet, mechanical, go round --
Of Ground, or Air, or Ought --
A Wooden way
Regardless grown,
A Quartz contentment, like a stone --

This is the Hour of Lead --
Remembered, if outlived,
As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow --
First -- Chill -- then Stupor -- then the letting go --

Added: on February 25th, 2008 at 11:18 PM | Viewed: 25105 times | Comments and analysis of After great pain, a formal feeling comes by Emily Dickinson Comments (16)

After great pain, a formal feeling comes - Comments and Information
Poet: Emily Dickinson Poem: 341. After great pain, a formal feeling comes Volume: Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson Year: Published/Written in 1955 Poem of the Day: Nov 8 2003 Comment 16 of 16, added on May 9th, 2008 at 11:05 AM. i think this poem is about death fanjatiana Comment 15 of 16, added on March 5th, 2008 at 9:13 PM. While I agree this poem is indeed about death, I don't believe that it is from the standpoint of those who have lost a loved one, but rather of the apparent pronouns Emily creates out of words that are regularly nouns- "Heart", "Nerves", "Air" etcetera. If you read it like these objects and feelings are beings themselves, your outlook on the poem shifts. ellen from Canada Comment 14 of 16, added on February 25th, 2008 at 11:18 PM. by limiting this poem to just "death", we are eliminating all the other possible reasons for the "pain". Anna from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, After great pain, a formal feeling comes, has received 16 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Emily Dickinson with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Emily Dickinson Poem: 341. After great pain, a formal feeling comes Volume: Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson Year: Published/Written in 1955 Last read: May 17 2008, 1:42PM Poem of the Day: Nov 8 2003 Viewed 25105 times. Added on February 25th, 2008 at 11:18 PM.

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