A Happy Lip Breaks Sudden

A Happy Lip Breaks Sudden - context Summary

Written in 1862

This short lyric was written in 1862 and first published posthumously in the 1891 Poems collection as poem 353. It belongs to Dickinson’s prolific mid-career output and reflects her compact, elliptical style. The poem registers a sudden, private smile and the contrast between instant joy and a more restrained, enduring cheer. Composed during the 1860s but not printed until decades later, the piece illustrates how Dickinson’s brief, enigmatic observations were collected and shaped for publication after her death rather than appearing in her lifetime.