Problems
By Emily Dickinson
Bring me the sunset in a cup,
Reckon the morning's flagons up,
And say how many dew;
Tell me how far the morning leaps,
Tell me what time the weaver sleeps
Who spun the breadths of blue!
Write me how many notes there be
In the new robin's ecstasy
Among astonished boughs;
How many trips the tortoise makes,
How many cups the bee partakes, —
The debauchee of dews!
Also, who laid the rainbow's piers,
Also, who leads the docile spheres
By withes of supple blue?
Whose fingers string the stalactite,
Who counts the wampum of the night,
To see that none is due?
Who built this little Alban house
And shut the windows down so close
My spirit cannot see?
Who 'll let me out some gala day,
With implements to fly away,
Passing pomposity?
Poem Analysis:
Emily Dickinson’s poem Problems is a meditation on the mysteries of nature, knowledge, and existence. Through vivid imagery and rhetorical questioning, Dickinson explores the limits of human understanding and the longing for transcendence.
Theme
- The Limits of Human Understanding: The poem presents a series of seemingly impossible tasks—measuring the sunset, counting dewdrops, and determining the boundaries of the morning sky. These questions underscore the vastness and complexity of the natural world, which remains beyond human comprehension. The poet questions who is responsible for constructing the universe’s beauty, from the “weaver” of the sky to the one who “counts the wampum of the night.” These questions suggest a deep curiosity about the origins and mechanisms of the universe.
- Nature as a Source of Wonder: Dickinson’s speaker marvels at the intricate details of nature, from the “robin’s ecstasy” to the “debauchee of dews” (the bee). These images highlight the poet’s deep appreciation for nature’s beauty and the joy found in its smallest details. The mention of the rainbow’s “piers” and the “docile spheres” suggests a fascination with celestial phenomena, reinforcing the theme of nature’s enigmatic design.
- Yearning for Freedom and Transcendence: The final stanza introduces a more personal and existential concern: the speaker feels confined in a “little Alban house” and longs to be released. The house may symbolize the limits imposed by the physical world, societal constraints, or even the human body itself. The desire to “fly away” with “implements” suggests a yearning for liberation, perhaps through knowledge, imagination, or even death. This echoes Dickinson’s frequent themes of spiritual escape and the quest for ultimate truth.
Literary Devices
- Imagery: The poem is rich with sensory images: “sunset in a cup,” “morning’s flagons,” “breadths of blue,” and “wampum of the night.” These vivid depictions create a dreamlike atmosphere and reinforce the poem’s themes of wonder and inquiry.
- Personification: The morning “leaps,” the bee is a “debauchee,” and the night’s stars are counted like wampum (a form of currency). These personifications bring nature to life and emphasize the interplay between the natural world and human curiosity.
- Rhetorical Questions: The poem is structured almost entirely through questions, reflecting the speaker’s insatiable curiosity and the elusive nature of answers. By never providing resolutions, Dickinson invites the reader to contemplate these mysteries alongside her.
- Metaphor: The sky is described as a woven fabric, suggesting an unseen weaver controlling the universe’s design. The mention of “implements to fly away” could metaphorically reference tools of escape—perhaps knowledge, poetry, or even death as a means of transcendence.
Emily Dickinson’s Problems is a thought-provoking poem that grapples with the mysteries of nature, the limits of human knowledge, and the desire for freedom beyond earthly confines. Through rich imagery, rhetorical questioning, and philosophical depth, Dickinson challenges the reader to confront the vast, unknowable aspects of existence. The poem ultimately celebrates curiosity while acknowledging the impossibility of finding all the answers—a hallmark of Dickinson’s poetic brilliance.