To Fill a Gap

To Fill a Gap - meaning Summary

Absence Resists Simple Fixes

The poem argues that some voids cannot be repaired by merely inserting substitutes. Dickinson warns that plugging an absence with other things often enlarges it, because a true gap needs proper attention rather than superficial filling. The image of trying to "solder an Abyss with Air" emphasizes the futility of using insubstantial or inappropriate remedies for fundamental losses or lacks.