It Knew No Medicine
poem 559
It Knew No Medicine - meaning Summary
Small Change, Lasting Absence
The poem registers a subtle, nonmedical diminishment that removes youth’s visible bloom bit by bit. Dickinson describes a change that is not sickness or pain but a gentle erosion of cheek and tint, leaving a plainer profile. The speaker likens the lost quality to an ineffable color seen on a sculpted face and wonders whether a single brief daring moment—temerity—approached and then caused lasting decline. The closing question unsettles whether an ephemeral encounter or glance can trigger a durable loss of vitality or innocence.
Read Complete AnalysesIt knew no Medicine It was not Sickness then Nor any need of Surgery And therefore ’twas not Pain It moved away the Cheeks A Dimple at a time And left the Profile plainer And in the place of Bloom It left the little Tint That never had a Name You’ve seen it on a Cast’s face Was Paradise to blame If momently ajar Temerity drew near And sickened ever afterward For Somewhat that it saw?
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