Emily Dickinson

The Zeroes Taught Us Phosphorous

poem 689

The Zeroes Taught Us Phosphorous - meaning Summary

Learning Force Through Play

Dickinson’s short poem reflects on how early lessons shape perception of force and change. Using childhood play as metaphor, it suggests we were taught to admire and harness dangerous brilliance — "Phosphorous" and fire — by pretending with ice and tinder. The poem contrasts opposing qualities (white/red, paralysis/vitality) to argue that understanding depend on relational opposites and that inertia or numbness becomes the basic lesson before true life or energy emerges.

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The Zeroes taught us Phosphorous We learned to like the Fire By playing Glaciers when a Boy And Tinder guessed by power Of Opposite to balance Odd If White a Red must be! Paralysis our Primer dumb Unto Vitality!

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