Poem Analysis - Tis Good The Looking Back On Grief

A Comforting Reflection on Grief

Emily Dickinson's "'Tis good the looking back on Grief" offers a perspective on sorrow that seeks solace and understanding in retrospect. The poem's tone is initially somber, acknowledging the weight of past grief, but it gradually shifts towards a more hopeful and accepting outlook. Dickinson suggests that revisiting past sorrows can offer a unique form of comfort and perspective, ultimately diminishing the power of present suffering. This is a quiet poem, contemplating the nature of pain and time's ability to heal.

The Healing Power of Memory

One of the central themes of the poem is the healing power of memory in relation to grief. The opening lines establish this idea directly, stating that "’Tis good the looking back on Grief/To re-endure a Day." This "re-endurance" isn't presented as a negative experience, but rather as a necessary step in understanding and processing past pain. The poem suggests that by revisiting these difficult memories, we can gain a better understanding of how we overcame them, thus diminishing their power. This act of remembrance allows us to see the progression of time and the gradual fading of grief's intensity.

Nature's Gentle Embrace

Nature plays a significant role in the poem, acting as a symbol of healing and renewal. The image of "Busy Grass" that "meddle[s] one by one/Till all the Grief with Summer waved/And none could see the stone" is particularly potent. Here, the grass represents the slow but persistent force of nature that gradually covers and softens the harsh edges of grief, symbolized by the "stone." The use of "Summer" further emphasizes the theme of healing and growth. The natural world, in Dickinson's portrayal, is not indifferent to sorrow, but actively works to absorb and transform it.

Equating Past and Present Pain

The poem also delves into the comparison between past and present grief. The final stanza directly addresses this, stating "And though the Woe you have Today/Be larger As the Sea/Exceeds its Unremembered Drop/They’re Water equally." This striking image equates all forms of grief, regardless of their apparent magnitude. While present sorrow might feel overwhelming, like an endless sea, it is ultimately made of the same substance as past sorrows – "water," a metaphor for tears, suffering, and ultimately, the human experience. This suggests a fundamental equality in all pain, implying that the same capacity for healing exists within us, regardless of the situation.

A Sea of Tears, a Well of Hope

The symbol of water, particularly the sea and the "Unremembered Drop," is central to the poem's meaning. The sea represents the overwhelming vastness of current grief, while the single drop symbolizes past sorrows that have faded into memory. Yet, Dickinson argues that both are "Water equally," implying that all grief, regardless of its apparent size, is part of a larger cycle and shares the same fundamental nature. Perhaps Dickinson is suggesting that just as a single drop contributes to the vastness of the ocean, each experience of grief, however small, shapes our understanding of pain and our capacity for resilience. The final lines offer a comforting thought: grief, in all its forms, is a shared human experience, and like water, it can eventually transform and evaporate.

Concluding Reflection on Grief's Transformation

In conclusion, "'Tis good the looking back on Grief" is a profound meditation on the nature of sorrow and the healing power of time and memory. Dickinson uses vivid imagery and careful comparison to suggest that revisiting past grief can offer solace and perspective, and that all forms of sorrow are fundamentally connected. Ultimately, the poem offers a message of hope, emphasizing the enduring capacity of nature and the human spirit to transform pain into something bearable, and even, perhaps, into something that can inform and enrich our understanding of life. Dickinson doesn't deny the pain of grief, but reframes it as a part of a larger process of healing and growth.