Emily Dickinson

Robbed by Death but That Was Easy

poem 971

Robbed by Death but That Was Easy - meaning Summary

Enduring Uncertainty and Loss

The poem depicts an emotional landscape where loss and freedom both feel like thefts—Death and Liberty rob the speaker in different ways. Dickinson contrasts tangible deprivation with prolonged suspense: the ‘‘fraud’’ of danger and distance that torments more than actual catastrophe. The closing image of fate ‘‘seesawing’’ on a hair emphasizes precariousness and the cruel suspense that stalks one’s possessions and courage, making uncertainty its own calamity.

Read Complete Analyses

Robbed by Death but that was easy To the failing Eye I could hold the latest Glowing Robbed by Liberty For Her Jugular Defences This, too, I endured Hint of Glory it afforded For the Brave Beloved Fraud of Distance Fraud of Danger, Fraud of Death to bear It is Bounty to Suspense’s Vague Calamity Stalking our entire Possession On a Hair’s result Then seesawing coolly on it Trying if it split

default user
PoetryVerse just now

Feel free to be first to leave comment.

8/2200 - 0