Emily Dickinson

Tis One by One the Father Counts

poem 545

Tis One by One the Father Counts - meaning Summary

Learning and Equal Regard

The poem frames instruction as a careful, stepwise process: a parent or teacher counts and removes the cipher to teach foundational value, then restores numerals once skill is gained. It portrays learning as practical, patient, and individualized, with even the least student receiving attention and a sum fashioned for them. The recurring ‘‘Eternal Rule’' suggests an overarching principle—orderly progression from simple to symbolic understanding and equal regard for each learner.

Read Complete Analyses

‘Tis One by One the Father counts And then a Tract between Set Cypherless to teach the Eye The Value of its Ten Until the peevish Student Acquire the Quick of Skill Then Numerals are dowered back Adorning all the Rule ‘Tis mostly Slate and Pencil And Darkness on the School Distracts the Children’s fingers Still the Eternal Rule Regards least Cypherer alike With Leader of the Band And every separate Urchin’s Sum Is fashioned for his hand

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