Poem Analysis - On This Long Storm The Rainbow Rose

Introduction: Hope and Heedlessness

Emily Dickinson's "On This Long Storm The Rainbow Rose" presents a poignant reflection on hope emerging from hardship, contrasted with humanity's potential indifference to both life and death. The poem begins with vivid imagery of renewal after a storm, shifting to a somber contemplation of death's immutable state. The initial tone of optimism gradually darkens, revealing a meditation on mortality and the difficulty of piercing the veil of death's quietude. Ultimately, the poem examines the complexities of human perception and the profound mystery surrounding the afterlife.

Nature's Renewal as a Counterpoint to Mortality

One of the main themes explored in the poem is the contrast between nature's capacity for renewal and the finality of death. The opening lines depict a world reborn after a storm: "On this long storm the Rainbow rose/On this late Morn the Sun." The rainbow and the rising sun symbolize hope and a fresh start. Furthermore, the clouds are described as "listless Elephants," creating a whimsical image of nature's relaxed state after the tempest. The birds, "smiling, in their nests," further emphasize the joyous resurgence of life. This vibrant imagery serves as a stark counterpoint to the poem's later focus on death, highlighting the enduring cycle of nature against the permanent stillness of mortality. The phrase "the gales indeed were done" signals a closure to the storm's chaos, contrasting with the irreversible state of death introduced later.

The Heedlessness of Life and the Inevitability of Death

The poem also develops the theme of human heedlessness, particularly regarding the preciousness of life. Dickinson writes, "Alas, how heedless were the eyes/On whom the summer shone!" This suggests that some individuals fail to appreciate the beauty and opportunity that life offers, symbolized by the "summer." It implies a lack of awareness or gratitude for the gift of existence. This "heedlessness" prepares the reader for the introduction of death, the ultimate state of unawareness. The subsequent lines, "The quiet nonchalance of death/No Daybreak can bestir," emphasize the unshakeable nature of death. The contrast between "Daybreak" – a symbol of new beginnings – and death's "nonchalance" underscores the finality of mortality and the difficulty of comprehending such a state of permanent stillness. The idea of summer shining on "heedless" eyes is juxtaposed with the idea of awakening the deceased with a "slow Archangel's syllables."

Symbolism of Light and Sound

Light and sound function as recurring symbols within the poem. Initially, the "Rainbow" and the "Sun" represent hope and the return of life after a period of darkness. The shift to the absence of light in death is significant. The lack of a "Daybreak" that can "bestir" the deceased emphasizes the finality of their state. Further, the poem introduces the image of "The slow Archangel’s syllables" which are required to awaken the dead. Here, sound replaces the earlier imagery of light. The archangel's words are a powerful force, suggesting that only divine intervention can penetrate the stillness of death. This introduces an element of religious belief and the possibility of an afterlife, even as the poem acknowledges the profound mystery surrounding death. The phrase "slow Archangel's syllables" is particularly intriguing. What tone do the syllables carry? Is it gentle comfort, or a call to judgment?

Final Insight: A Quiet Contemplation of Mortality

In conclusion, "On This Long Storm The Rainbow Rose" offers a complex meditation on hope, heedlessness, and the inevitability of death. The poem moves from an initial celebration of nature's renewal to a somber reflection on the human condition and the enigma of mortality. Through contrasting imagery and symbolic use of light and sound, Dickinson explores the delicate balance between life and death. The poem leaves the reader pondering the potential for human obliviousness to the beauty of life, and the possibility – however faint – of awakening in the afterlife. The final image of the archangel's words lingers, suggesting that death's quietude might be broken, albeit by a force beyond human comprehension. The poem is a quiet contemplation on that which most people would prefer to avoid thinking about, the end of their existence.