I'm ceded -- I've stopped being Theirs -- - A poem by Emily Dickinson

I'm ceded -- I've stopped being Theirs -- The name They dropped upon my face With water, in the country church Is finished using, now, And They can put it with my Dolls, My childhood, and the string of spools, I've finished threading -- too -- Baptized, before, without the choice, But this time, consciously, of Grace -- Unto supremest name -- Called to my Full -- The Crescent dropped -- Existence's whole Arc, filled up, With one small Diadem. My second Rank -- too small the first -- Crowned -- Crowing -- on my Father's breast -- A half unconscious Queen -- But this time -- Adequate -- Erect, With Will to choose, or to reject, And I choose, just a Crown --

Poet: Emily Dickinson
Poem: 508. I'm ceded -- I've stopped being Theirs --
Volume: Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson
Year: Published/Written in 1955

Comment 2 of 2, added on September 5th, 2005 at 7:53 PM.

Most branches of Christianity baptize children soon after birth, with the parents agreeing for their child that s/he will be brought up as a Christian and accepts certain tenants of Christianity. It seems as if in this poem Dickinson is rebelling against what people have told her her life should be like in childhood, when she didn't know any better, and is re-baptizing herself with full self-awareness, "with Will to choose, or to reject."

Sarah from United States

Comment 1 of 2, added on April 9th, 2005 at 6:50 PM.

This peom seems to be more about her not liking her childhood because of the way she way treated by her father with his strict rules and the things he did to controlhis children.

Kiya

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