Poem Analysis - Make Me A Picture Of The Sun

Yearning for Perpetual Summer

Emily Dickinson’s “Make Me A Picture Of The Sun” is a wistful plea for an idealized, never-ending summer. The poem expresses a desire to escape the cold realities of life through imagination and artifice. The tone is initially hopeful and childlike, characterized by requests for bright, cheerful images. However, a subtle shift towards melancholy appears as the speaker acknowledges the inevitable end of the idyllic season, leading to a bittersweet acceptance of its transience.

The Power of Imagination

A central theme in the poem is the power of imagination as a refuge from the harsh realities of existence. The speaker seeks to create an artificial world through art – a painted sun, a drawn robin – to ward off the cold and darkness. This theme is developed through vivid imagery of sunshine, birdsong, and blooming flowers, all representing warmth and vitality. By asking to “make believe” and “dream,” the speaker emphasizes the mind’s ability to construct its own reality, offering solace even when nature’s beauty fades.

Escape from Time

The poem explores a yearning to escape the cyclical nature of time. The speaker asks to “skip the frost upon the lea / And skip the Russet on the tree,” explicitly rejecting the autumnal decline that signals the end of summer. This suggests a desire to freeze a moment of happiness and vitality, to deny the inevitable progression toward winter and its associated themes of death and decay. This theme links to a broader human desire to overcome mortality and hold onto fleeting moments of joy.

Symbols of Eternal Warmth

The sun, robin, buttercups, and butterflies serve as recurring symbols of life and vitality. The sun, of course, is a universal symbol of warmth, energy, and illumination, representing the life force that the speaker seeks to capture and retain. The robin, with its cheerful song, symbolizes joy and renewal. The buttercups and butterflies, skimming and blooming respectively, embody the delicate beauty and fleeting nature of summer. The request to “skip” frost and russet imagery underscores the wish to bypass any symbolism of decline and impermanence, aiming to fix these potent symbols of life eternally.

A Bittersweet Conclusion

In conclusion, “Make Me A Picture Of The Sun” is a poignant expression of the human desire for enduring happiness. The poem uses the imagery of an idealized summer to explore themes of imagination, the passage of time, and the search for refuge from harsh realities. While the speaker recognizes the impossibility of permanently escaping the natural cycle, the poem ultimately celebrates the power of art and imagination to create moments of warmth and beauty, even in the face of inevitable change. It leaves the reader pondering: can art truly provide a sustained substitute for lived experience, or is its value found in the temporary solace it provides?