Sleep is supposed to be
By souls of sanity
The shutting of the eye.

Sleep is the station grand
Down which, on either hand
The hosts of witness stand!

Morn is supposed to be
By people of degree
The breaking of the Day.

Morning has not occurred!

That shall Aurora be —
East of Eternity —
One with the banner gay —
One in the red array —
That is the break of Day!

Analysis, meaning and summary of Emily Dickinson's poem Sleep is supposed to be

12 Comments

  1. Kelsey says:

    i think that this poem is about how people do not open their eyes up to the beauty of the world.Sleep is the time of day when we are suppose to close our eyes not in the regular day

  2. Tamara says:

    I think that this poem tell that many people don’t think about things which may be fascinated and beutiful – they think that the sleep is shutting the eyes – but it is more

  3. lena says:

    this poem is great i think it shows how much we need our sleep, so when we wake we are as refreshed as we’re supposed to be…

    i agree with many this is a great poem as well with her other poems as well.

  4. Munira says:

    i love this poem its fantastic

  5. Ayla Saechao says:

    this poem is a really great poem. She talks alot about her personal problems and they are really emotional, i think so.well we LOVE YOU EMILY DICKINSON.

  6. carter says:

    i love this poem it show the bueaty of sleep i love it you dont understand. i love emily dickinson. you just dont understand.i wish she was still alive i love her.i love her bueaty and her and verything about her.

    i love u emily!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

  7. Wallace says:

    Hemmm! It is always nice to see people fascinated with Ms Dickinson; however i must not that this poem has lillte to do with sleep and more to do with the break of day. However this is just an observation and there is much more to be drawn out when it comes to the actual interpetation of the poem.

  8. karen says:

    Like, OMG! Like, I totally relate, Raven! I’m a pathetic valley girl too!

  9. softy says:

    It is a wonderful poem. i would request the visitors to please read ‘Because I could not Stop for death’. i love it so much that i know it literally “by heart”

  10. Melissa says:

    I really love this poem. It is one oh her best, to me anyways!

  11. Ginelle says:

    I think it has a truly beautiful song

  12. Raven says:

    As a sleep deprived teenager, I love this poem! lol, seriously, this is an awesome poem, Emily worded it VERY well. 🙂

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