Poem Analysis - I Make His Crescent Fill Or Lack

A Dance of Power and Uncertainty

Emily Dickinson's "I Make His Crescent Fill or Lack" is a deceptively simple poem that explores the complex dynamics of power and control within a relationship. The speaker asserts dominance over "Him," manipulating his visibility and influence. However, the poem complicates this initial impression, ultimately questioning the true nature of their power struggle and leaving the reader with a sense of uncertainty. The tone begins as assertive but gradually shifts to contemplative and ambiguous.

The Moon and The Masculine

The poem's central metaphor revolves around the relationship between the speaker and a masculine figure, represented by the capitalized "His." The most prevalent reading frames "His" as a celestial body, likely the moon, and the speaker as the force controlling its phases and movements, perhaps the Earth or some other celestial influence. The opening lines, "I make His Crescent fill or lack / His Nature is at Full / Or Quarter as I signify / His Tides do I control," establishes the speaker's apparent power to dictate "His" visibility and influence on earth. This imagery suggests that the speaker has immense control over "His" existence. We see the moon and its orbit as a metaphor for a controlling relationship.

Mutual Dependence and Shared Space

Despite the speaker's initial claims of dominance, the poem introduces a crucial shift in perspective. The lines "But since We hold a Mutual Disc / And front a Mutual Day" suggest a shared existence, a relationship of mutual dependence. The "Mutual Disc" could represent a shared world or understanding, while the "Mutual Day" implies a shared experience of reality. This hints that the power dynamic is not as clear-cut as it initially seemed and the person, while able to control parts of the other's life, is also constrained in the same way.

Imagery of Control and Concealment

The poem employs vivid imagery to depict the speaker's control and "His" resulting vulnerability. The lines "He holds superior in the Sky / Or gropes, at my Command / Behind inferior Clouds or round / A Mist’s slow Colonnade" paint a picture of "His" position fluctuating based on the speaker's will. When favored, "He" shines brilliantly, but when controlled, "He" is forced to "grope" behind obscuring "Clouds" and a "Mist's slow Colonnade," representing a diminished or hidden state. The phrase "Mist's slow Colonnade" is especially evocative, suggesting a gradual, almost oppressive, concealment.

Who's the Despot? A Question of Power

The poem's central theme revolves around the nature of power and the difficulty of determining who truly holds it in a relationship. The final couplet, "Which is the Despot, neither knows / Nor Whose the Tyranny," encapsulates this ambiguity. The question posed is not whether tyranny exists, but who is enacting it. This suggests that the power dynamic is so intertwined and complex that neither party can definitively claim dominance. Perhaps both are simultaneously oppressor and oppressed, locked in a cycle of control and submission. It also raises questions about what constitutes tyranny in the context of a close relationship.

Uncertainty as a Conclusion

In conclusion, "I Make His Crescent Fill or Lack" is a powerful exploration of power, control, and the complexities of relationships. The speaker initially asserts dominance, but the poem ultimately reveals the limitations of that power and the mutual dependence between the two figures. The concluding lines leave the reader with a lingering sense of uncertainty, suggesting that the true nature of power and control may be impossible to fully grasp. The poem's significance lies in its ability to challenge conventional notions of power dynamics and to highlight the subtle, often unconscious, ways in which individuals influence and control one another.