Poem Analysis - The Sun And Moon Must Make Their Haste

Overview: A Divine Illumination

Emily Dickinson’s "The Sun And Moon Must Make Their Haste" is a short but potent exploration of divine power and its overwhelming nature. The poem opens with a sense of urgency and awe as celestial bodies rush to make way for the Lord's presence. It moves from a cosmic perspective to a deeply personal one, concluding with an image of God's grace extended to the individual soul. The overall tone is reverential, tinged with both the magnificence and the potential terror of encountering divine light.

The Overwhelming Presence of Divinity

One of the main themes of the poem is the overwhelming power of divinity. The opening lines establish this immediately. The sun, moon, and stars, typically symbols of immense cosmic power, are forced to "make their haste" and "express around," suggesting they are displaced and diminished in the face of God's greater radiance. The image of the Lord "burned" in Paradise is not one of destruction, but of a pure, intense light that consumes all else. This is not a gentle, comforting God, but a force of nature that alters the very fabric of existence. The phrase "Zones of Paradise" implies a space reserved and almost dangerous due to the raw power contained within it.

The All-Seeing Gaze and Human Insignificance

Another central theme is the insignificance of humanity in the face of divine omnipresence. The second stanza emphasizes the Lord's all-seeing eye, which encompasses "the East and West, The North and South." This omnipresence leaves no room for secrets or escape. The comparison of individuals to "Glow Worms" who "flee away" when the Lord concentrates His Countenance underscores human vulnerability and comparative lack of significance. This imagery reinforces the idea that even the brightest human achievements pale in comparison to the sheer magnitude of divine being. The use of the word "Countenance" suggests a deliberate and focused observation, heightening the sense of being scrutinized.

A Beacon of Hope: Individual Salvation

Despite the overwhelming power of God and human insignificance, the poem also offers a glimmer of hope and the possibility of individual salvation. The final stanza shifts dramatically in tone. Addressing a "Poor and Far" and "Hindred Eye," the poem acknowledges the struggles and limitations of the individual. However, it concludes with the idea that "The Lord a Candle entertains Entirely for Thee." This suggests that despite the cosmic scale of God's power, there is also a personal and compassionate aspect to His nature. The image of a candle implies a smaller, gentler light, offering guidance and warmth specifically tailored to the individual’s needs, contrasting sharply with the "burned" light of the first stanza. It poses an open-ended question: Is this 'candle' a symbol of understanding or is it the only degree to which the average person can comprehend the granduer of God?

Light and Sight: Recurring Imagery

The poem is rich in imagery of light and sight, which serve as recurring symbols. Light represents divine power, knowledge, and grace, while sight symbolizes perception and understanding. The contrast between the intense light of the Lord and the flickering light of the "Candle" highlights the different aspects of God's nature – both overwhelming and compassionate. The "Hindred Eye" represents a limited human perspective, struggling to perceive the full truth. By presenting the Lord as a source of both blinding light and gentle illumination, Dickinson suggests that the divine is both awe-inspiring and approachable, depending on the individual's capacity to perceive it.

Conclusion: A Paradoxical Divinity

In conclusion, "The Sun And Moon Must Make Their Haste" is a complex and thought-provoking poem that explores the multifaceted nature of divinity. It presents a God of immense power, capable of overwhelming the entire cosmos, yet also a God of individual compassion, offering a personal light to guide the lost. Dickinson captures a sense of both awe and vulnerability in the face of the divine, ultimately suggesting that despite human insignificance, there is a possibility of finding solace and salvation through a personal connection with the Lord. The poem’s significance lies in its ability to convey the paradox of a God who is both infinitely powerful and intimately concerned with the individual soul.