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The PoemI died for Beauty--but was scarce
Adjusted in the tomb When One who died for Truth, was lain In an adjoing Room-- He questioned softly "Why I failed?" "For Beauty," I replied-- "And I--for truth--Themself are One-- We Brethren, are," He said-- And so, as Kinsmen, met a Night-- We talked between the Rooms-- Until the Moss had reached our lips-- And covered up--our names-- |
The InterpretationI died for beauty
but was not acquainted with my tomb when a person who died for truth was put in the tomb by me. He asked me why I died. I told him beauty. He said he died for truth and they are the same. We are brothers. Those two brothers met that night. We talked between the tombs until moss had grown our lips together and masked our names. |
What is this all about?
Here is the short and simple version:
A person has died for beauty and is in a tomb. The person in the next tomb has died for truth. The person who died for truth tells the person who died from beauty that they died for the same thing. They talk until the moss covers their names and their lips.
A person has died for beauty and is in a tomb. The person in the next tomb has died for truth. The person who died for truth tells the person who died from beauty that they died for the same thing. They talk until the moss covers their names and their lips.
What is the form?
Rhyming:
Stress:
Sound familiar? Dickinson uses a similar form for most of her poems. Want to learn more about her use of form? Click the buttons below.
- ABCB rhyme scheme
Stress:
- The fist and third lines of each stanza are in iambic tetrameter.
- The second and fourth lines of each stanza are in iambic trimeter.
- Dashes are used to break up flow.
Sound familiar? Dickinson uses a similar form for most of her poems. Want to learn more about her use of form? Click the buttons below.
What are the themes in this poem?
Separation is a main theme throughout the poem. In the first stanza, the persona is separated with the world of the living since she or he has "died" (Dickinson 1). Furthermore, the theme of separation is apparent in the juxtaposition of the tombs. The two individuals are separated between the walls of the "adjoining Room" (Dickinson 4). Lastly, the theme of separation is highlighted in the moss's separation of the two individuals. Since the moss has grown on their lips, they can no longer speak to another. Not only are they separated from each other, but the world itself. The moss has grown over their names, so they become anonymous to the world of the living.