Poem Analysis - Out Of Sight What Of That

A Bird's Audacity: An Introduction

Emily Dickinson's "Out of Sight? What of That?" is a brief but potent exploration of ambition, faith, and the allure of the unseen. The poem begins with a confident assertion of overcoming limitations, illustrated by the image of a bird reaching great heights. This initial tone of daring gives way to a more contemplative and tender reflection on the relationship between the earthly and the divine, ending on a note of gentle acceptance. The poem navigates from the boldness of pursuing the unreachable to a quiet understanding of hidden connections.

Reaching Beyond Perceived Limits: Ambition and Risk

The first stanza introduces the theme of ambition and the willingness to embrace risk. The bird, dismissing the limitation of being "out of sight," becomes a symbol of relentless pursuit. Dickinson's use of active verbs like "reach," "curve," and "sweep" emphasizes the bird's determined efforts. The rhetorical question, "Danger! What is that to Her?" further underscores this fearlessness. The stanza culminates in a profound statement: "Better 'tis to fail there / Than debate here." This suggests a powerful preference for action and striving, even in the face of potential failure, over passive contemplation and inaction. The location is not specified, but "there" suggests a higher plane, more lofty and fraught with hazards.

Earth, Heaven, and Hidden Connection: A Delicate Relationship

The second stanza shifts the focus to a more ethereal realm, introducing the themes of faith and the hidden connections between Earth and Heaven. Dickinson uses color imagery – "Blue is Blue the World through" and "Amber Amber Dew" – to evoke a sense of serenity and the pervasive nature of these qualities. The lines "Seek Friend and see / Heaven is shy of Earth that’s all" present Heaven as not distant or indifferent, but simply bashful, suggesting a delicate relationship between the divine and the human. This bashfulness is echoed in the image of "thy Lovers small / Hide too from thee," implying that even earthly relationships are characterized by a degree of shyness and concealment. The theme of unseen connection unites the earthly and spiritual realms.

Symbols of Transcendence: Birds and Colors

The bird acts as a central symbol of transcendence and the overcoming of limitations. Its flight upward represents a striving for something beyond the immediate and visible. The colors, "Blue" and "Amber," might be interpreted as symbolic representations of Heaven and Earth. Blue, often associated with the sky and the divine, suggests the ethereal and spiritual. Amber, the color of dew and perhaps sunlight, symbolizes earthly beauty and warmth. Their repetition reinforces the idea that these elements are integral to the "World through," hinting at an underlying harmony and interconnection.

A Final Embrace of the Unseen

In conclusion, "Out of Sight? What of That?" is a nuanced exploration of ambition, faith, and the delicate relationship between the earthly and the divine. The poem moves from a bold assertion of overcoming limitations to a tender acceptance of the hidden connections that bind us. Through vivid imagery and symbolic representation, Dickinson encourages us to embrace the unseen, to value striving over complacency, and to recognize the shyness and beauty inherent in both earthly and heavenly relationships. The poem's significance lies in its ability to affirm the worth of venturing beyond the readily apparent, into a realm where faith and connection reside.