Emily Dickinson

Life Is What We Make of It

poem 698

Life Is What We Make of It - meaning Summary

Agency in Life and Death

The poem contrasts human responsibility in life with uncertainty about death, and locates assurance in Christ’s familiarity with death and the afterlife. Because Christ has already "traversed" the distance to Paradise and vouches for the journey, the speaker finds that divine endorsement removes fear. The final lines urge courage: with Christ as the preceding guide, hesitation or cowardice in facing death or the unknown is unjustified.

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Life is what we make of it Death we do not know Christ’s acquaintance with Him Justify Him though He would trust no stranger Other could betray Just His own endorsement That sufficeth Me All the other Distance He hath traversed first No New Mile remaineth Far as Paradise His sure foot preceding Tender Pioneer Base must be the Coward Dare not venture now

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