Poem Analysis - Delight Is As The Flight

Fleeting Joy and the Disappointment of Impermanence

Emily Dickinson’s "Delight Is As The Flight" is a poignant exploration of the ephemeral nature of joy and the inherent disappointment that arises from its fleeting existence. The poem opens with a tone of whimsical comparison, likening delight to the swiftness of flight and the ephemeral beauty of a rainbow. However, this initial sense of wonder gradually gives way to a melancholic awareness of life's transient pleasures, tinged with a hint of childlike disappointment. The poem navigates the contrast between the expectation of lasting joy and the reality of its inevitable departure, leaving the reader with a sense of bittersweet reflection.

The Unattainable Ideal of Lasting Delight

One of the central themes in the poem is the pursuit of lasting delight and the inevitable frustration when confronted with its impermanence. Dickinson uses the rainbow as a key symbol to illustrate this theme. The rainbow, described as a "Bent Stripe" and "Flung colored, after Rain," represents a moment of intense beauty that quickly fades. The speaker, as a child, naively "Took Rainbows, as the common way," suggesting an expectation of constant joy. However, the "empty Skies" that remain after the rainbow's disappearance symbolize the void and disappointment that follow when such fleeting moments pass. The lines "If it would last / I asked the East" vividly capture the yearning for permanence and the speaker's early realization that delight is not a constant state, but rather a temporary gift.

Butterflies and Brief Lives: Symbols of Transience

The poem employs vivid imagery to reinforce the theme of transience. The comparison of delight to the "flight" itself establishes a sense of rapid movement and inevitable departure. Later, the poem introduces butterflies: "And so with Lives / And so with Butterflies." This imagery directly links human existence and natural beauty to the fleeting nature of delight. Butterflies, known for their short lifespans and delicate beauty, become powerful symbols of the ephemeral nature of both life and joy. The phrase "Seen magic through the fright / That they will cheat the sight" suggests an awareness that beauty can be deceptive and that its disappearance is almost frightening in its suddenness. This reinforces the poem's central idea that delight, like a butterfly, is destined to vanish.

The Fear of Loss and the "Eccentricity" of Empty Skies

Dickinson explores the fear of loss that accompanies the appreciation of beauty. The lines "That they will cheat the sight" suggest a fear that the very act of observing beauty inherently contains the knowledge of its impending absence. This fear contributes to the poem's melancholic undercurrent. The phrase "empty Skies / The Eccentricity" is particularly striking. The "Eccentricity" of the empty skies could be interpreted as an acknowledgement of the oddity or unnaturalness of prolonged sadness. The phrase highlights the contrast between the expected joy of childhood and the realization that life is often characterized by absence and loss.

A Legacy of Fleeting Beauty

In conclusion, "Delight Is As The Flight" is a poignant meditation on the ephemeral nature of joy and the human response to its transience. Through vivid imagery, particularly the symbols of the rainbow and the butterfly, Dickinson captures the bittersweet experience of appreciating beauty while simultaneously acknowledging its inevitable disappearance. The poem delves into the themes of lost innocence, the yearning for permanence, and the inherent disappointment that arises from the fleeting nature of delight. Ultimately, the poem serves as a reminder to cherish moments of joy while accepting that they, like a rainbow after the rain, are destined to fade, leaving behind the "Eccentricity" of empty skies.