To Wait an Hour Is Long

To Wait an Hour Is Long - meaning Summary

Time Measured by Love

This very short poem contrasts external time with inner valuation: an hour feels long when desired love lies just out of reach, while eternity seems short if it culminates in love. Dickinson compresses a psychological truth into a tight paradox about patience and reward, showing how desire stretches moments and fulfillment collapses vast durations. The poem asks readers to consider emotional perception as the true measure of time, implying that meaning and outcome change how we experience waiting and permanence.