Three Times We Parted Breath and I
poem 598
Three Times We Parted Breath and I - meaning Summary
Near-death and Revival
Dickinson describes a near-death ordeal at sea where breath and tide repeatedly part and reunite. Recurrent assaults by waves leave the speaker tossed and nearly drowned, imagining human faces and small comforts as death approaches. Sleepy waves and unsteady winds give way to a dawn that kisses a chrysalis image, transforming peril into sudden renewal. The poem moves from struggle and suspension to a quiet, almost miraculous revival.
Read Complete AnalysesThree times we parted Breath and I Three times He would not go But strove to stir the lifeless Fan The Waters strove to stay. Three Times the Billows tossed me up Then caught me like a Ball Then made Blue faces in my face And pushed away a sail That crawled Leagues off I liked to see For thinking while I die How pleasant to behold a Thing Where Human faces be The Waves grew sleepy Breath did not The Winds like Children lulled Then Sunrise kissed my Chrysalis And I stood up and lived
Feel free to be first to leave comment.