Rearrange a Wife’s Affection!
Rearrange a Wife’s Affection! - meaning Summary
Hidden Constancy and Sacrifice
Dickinson's poem depicts a speaker who endures pain and alters outward identity to conceal a deep, steadfast love. She presents devotion as both burden and secret—bearing 'Thorns' publicly while privately keeping a hidden 'Diadem.' The poem traces long endurance, private anguish, and unwavering constancy, promising that the secret loyalty will remain bound to the speaker even unto death. Themes include sacrifice, secrecy, and the costs of concealed affection.
Read Complete AnalysesRearrange a ‘Wife’s’ affection! When they dislocate my Brain! Amputate my freckled Bosom! Make me bearded like a man! Blush, my spirit, in thy Fastness Blush, my unacknowledged clay Seven years of troth have taught thee More than Wifehood every may! Love that never leaped its socket Trust entrenched in narrow pain Constancy thro’ fire awarded Anguish bare of anodyne! Burden borne so far triumphant None suspect me of the crown, For I wear the ‘Thorns’ till Sunset Then my Diadem put on. Big my Secret but it’s bandaged It will never get away Till the Day its Weary Keeper Leads it through the Grave to thee.
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