I started Early — Took my Dog —
And visited the Sea —
The Mermaids in the Basement
Came out to look at me —
And Frigates — in the Upper Floor
Extended Hempen Hands —
Presuming Me to be a Mouse —
Aground — upon the Sands —
But no Man moved Me — till the Tide
Went past my simple Shoe —
And past my Apron — and my Belt —
And past my Bodice — too —
And made as He would eat me up —
As wholly as a Dew
Upon a Dandelion’s Sleeve —
And then — I started — too —
And He — He followed — close behind —
I felt his Silver Heel
Upon my Ankle — Then my Shoes
Would overflow with Pearl —
Until We met the Solid Town —
No One He seemed to know —
And bowing — with a Mighty look —
At me — The Sea withdrew —
The” sea ” in this poem is the bright day implying of a life,the “tide” is the light of the bright day,the “solid town” is death,so the poem is describing a life time,at the end ,”the sea withdraw after a mighty look at me”,as Tagore puts it in his Gatanjali,”One final glance from thine eyes and my life will be ever thine own.”
i love this poem it reminds me of my brother max
I had to memorize this poem for school. Its kewl
I am french and I just need help about E D’s poem 520…
Please send me a mail if you can.
thanks a lot
‘Went past my simple Shoe – And past my Apron – and my Belt and past my Bodice – too-‘This third stanza describes the actions of the lover as being extremely erotic these sexual references makes it appear as though the lover devours her body and the woman is being stripped it can be seen as a very aggressive manner. The capitalisation of the items being stripped makes the act seem very rough as though the woman is being treated as a sexual object. On the other hand this sexual reference can be seen as a very passionate moment for the woman as it can be viewed as arousing sexual feelings and desire.
this is a depressed woman!
Colombia’s vice president is “baffled” by Kate Moss’s success following cocaine allegations…
you all have a good idea about what the poems and i love to read ur ideas. lol.
alison
This is inspiering to me it give me a hope in sid that not one yet havs a love for poetry that had not been yet found!!
oxox*Cass*oxox0
i think this poem is tring to tell us that she is swiming and the water is a around her. when she feels like a mouse it is because the ocean is so big compared to her. when the water recedes it is becuase she is getting out of the water
I think the poem could relate to God since He is always capitalized & his faith is taking over creating her a new whole new person, or that the sea could symbolize a man. She used to be a stiff character but he seems to blow her away! & she falls in S2 with him, & becomes a whole new person, I have a lot more to say but my mom is making me get off.
This poem is about sex. It’s extremely erotic, and despite E.D.’s depression, she wrote a lot of sexual poems. The sea is a metaphor for a man, (or a woman,) and the manner in which the “sea” devours her body–the first man that ever moved her–is sensual. You can even find the climax in the poem.
this poem is sad, bcoz she is gona commit suicide. by the way sum of your comments are funny!!
In this poem Emily Dickinson is setting out to commit suicide.
The mermaids in the basement were some people living in the damp basement watching her go.
The frigates were big important people living on the top floor. They too watched her go in an unfriendly (hempen hands) disdainful way, making her feel like a little mouse.
She uses the analogies “mermaids” and “frigates” because the sea is on her mind.
No man stopped her, so she wades into the sea.
God was in the power of the sea, and it looked as though He was going to devour her, but He decides to save her instead. He follows her, she felt Him in the waves lapping round her ankles that reminded her of pearls, and God’s “silver heel”
She was washed back up on the shore “solid town” then God gave her a mighty look and departed in the form of the sea.
This poem is about redemption, she sets out to commit suicide but is saved to live another day. Emily Dickinson was depressed, she had Bright’s disease, she clearly fantasized about suicide all alone in her room dressed in white, and that is what this poem is about.
i liked it and its was good!!!!!!!
i didn’t read the poem so i’m not sure what to say about it except i dont like poems cause they suck!
To understand this poem, you must read every word out loud, and word by word, like piece by piece, will you understand it. As poems use precise words, it is very helpful if you think about why Emily used some of the words.
My opinion of this poem is that it is very emotional, and the point she talks about it is very creative…
this poem clearly shows the difference between morbidosity and ones ability to feel. If one could summarize this poem in one word it would be, “holy wowzers.” i can relate… this is how i roll. one time i took these wierd pills and had an experience similar to this morbid poem i read here. straight out of compton
WOW i like your poem its one of a kind.its realy funny
she should be very proud
This is a good poem by Emily Dickinson…
she shows great mood and feeling ,