Floss won’t save you from an Abyss
But a Rope will —
Notwithstanding a Rope for a Souvenir
Is not beautiful —
But I tell you every step is a Trough —
And every stop a Well —
Now will you have the Rope or the Floss?
Prices reasonable —
Floss won’t save you from an Abyss
But a Rope will —
Notwithstanding a Rope for a Souvenir
Is not beautiful —
But I tell you every step is a Trough —
And every stop a Well —
Now will you have the Rope or the Floss?
Prices reasonable —
Do you have any comments, criticism, paraphrasis or analysis of this poem that you feel would assist other visitors in understanding the meaning or the theme of this poem by Emily Dickinson better? If accepted, your analysis will be added to this page of American Poems. Together we can build a wealth of information, but it will take some discipline and determination.
There are two opposite approaches to existence (fill in your suggestions.) Either one of these approaches works–fifty percent of the time. Take your choice.
This a a deeply ironic comment on the predictament
we find ourselves in–forced, seemingly to choose an
identity. What the poem doesn’t bring up is the possibility of freedom from any one-sided identity–such as is taught in Zen Buddhism.