He fumbles at your Soul
As Players at the Keys
Before they drop full Music on —
He stuns you by degrees —
Prepares your brittle Nature
For the Ethereal Blow
By fainter Hammers — further heard —
Then nearer — Then so slow
Your Breath has time to straighten —
Your Brain — to bubble Cool —
Deals — One — imperial — Thunderbolt —
That scalps your naked Soul —
When Winds take Forests in the Paws —
The Universe — is still —
I think it could apply to various life experiences. The words speak to you and you give them the reception that is meaningful to you.
Hello，actually I don’t know what meanings the author want to express. I wonder that if she is expressing her opinion about death，or she just is facing her death. I have no idea. If you can discuss it with，that is a very interesting thing. Looking for your reply，dear friend.
I think, whether Emily is talking about herself or not God is there for you, because no one would prepare you for the ethereal, or heaven.
I have to say that I was pretty surprised when I read all of your comments. The first thing that came mind when I read this poem was the first struck of love. That moment where one takes hold of our heart, fumbles with our soul and leaves us completely changed for life. This might be only me, I admit I am a hopeless romantic and I capable of seeing something love related in whatever I come across, but hey…I think it applies in this particular poem.
That’s the same way I saw it at first too *Cosmina*
The way God dramatically masters a soul.
Although every poem is open to interpretation, i feel that perhaps Maureen had missed the true meaning of this poem, i believe it is a desparate out cry of emotion on the part of Dickinson, regarding her frustration with a lover who is inconsitent in his affection, and is therefore less a lover but more an unskilled pianist “fumbling” upon the keys of her soul, taking some form of gratification from it, completly unaware of the pain he is causing to her
I think this poem is about Emily’s struggles with faith. Despite all her resistance, she cannot seem to ward off the work of God. Ultimately she rejects Him, but His power is still overwhelming.
the poem is really good. i know emily may not have been a famous poet, but she should’ve been because her poems are good.