Poem Analysis - A Tongue To Tell Him I Am True

Introduction: Yearning and Determination

Emily Dickinson’s “A Tongue to Tell Him I Am True!” is a passionate declaration of unwavering devotion. The poem employs vivid imagery and a sense of urgency to convey the speaker’s profound love and commitment. The tone is initially one of longing, quickly shifting to a determined resolve as the speaker crafts elaborate plans to communicate her feelings. Ultimately, the poem conveys a sense of timelessness and eternal devotion.

Love's Inestimable Value: The Price of Truth

One of the central themes of the poem is, of course, love. But Dickinson explores it not just as a feeling, but as a truth that the speaker is compelled to express, regardless of cost. The opening lines establish this immediately: "A Tongue to tell Him I am true! / Its fee to be of Gold." The desire to proclaim her truth is so great that she imagines a world where even the most impoverished would risk everything for the chance to be the messenger. This highlights the immense value she places on conveying her love, making it worth more than any earthly treasure.

Transcending Limitations: Love Beyond Death

The poem also grapples with the theme of eternity and the limitations of earthly life. The speaker’s bond transcends the bounds of time and space. This idea is most potently captured in the final stanza: "That when the Hills come down / And hold no higher than the Plain / My Bond have just begun." This imagery suggests that even when the world as we know it ceases to exist, her commitment will remain. The mention of "Heavens disband[ing]" and "Deity conclude" further reinforces the idea that her love exists beyond the confines of mortality and established orders.

The Earnest Quest: A Messenger's Mission

The theme of determination and persistence runs throughout the poem, conveyed through the speaker’s elaborate instructions for the messenger. She meticulously plans the delivery, offering increasingly extravagant rewards – gold, diamonds, rubies – to ensure her message is conveyed accurately and completely. Her insistence that the "Message must be told" reveals a powerful will and unshakeable resolve to express her love, no matter the obstacles. This determination highlights the depth and importance of her feelings.

Imagery of Immeasurable Value and Universal Scope

Dickinson uses powerful symbolism to represent the value and scope of the speaker's love. The imagery of gold, diamonds, and rubies underscores the priceless nature of her feelings. These precious materials symbolize not only wealth but also purity, strength, and enduring beauty, reflecting the qualities she associates with her love. Furthermore, the images of "Hills com[ing] down" and "Heavens disband[ing]" represent cataclysmic events, emphasizing the scale and enduring nature of her bond, suggesting it withstands even the most significant changes and transformations in the universe.

Conclusion: A Love Enduring Beyond Time

In conclusion, "A Tongue to Tell Him I am True!" is a compelling expression of unwavering love and devotion. Through vivid imagery and a determined tone, Emily Dickinson portrays a speaker whose commitment transcends the limitations of earthly existence. The poem's enduring power lies in its exploration of love's inestimable value and its capacity to endure beyond time and space, leaving the reader with a sense of awe at the magnitude of the speaker's feelings.