You Know That Portrait in the Moon
poem 504
You Know That Portrait in the Moon - meaning Summary
Moon as Changing Portrait
Dickinson compares the moon’s face to a remembered portrait, identifying its features with a person called Ishmael. The poem tracks how phases and atmospheric effects alter the moon’s likeness: full moon evokes naming and closeness, crescent preserves a consistent essence, while clouds briefly hide the face and a subtler “film” creates a harder, ceremonial distance. The speaker’s observation blends affection, memory, and the instability of perception.
Read Complete AnalysesYou know that Portrait in the Moon So tell me who ’tis like The very Brow the stooping eyes A fog for Say Whose Sake? The very Pattern of the Cheek It varies in the Chin But Ishmael since we met ’tis long And fashions intervene When Moon’s at full ’Tis Thou I say My lips just hold the name When crescent Thou art worn I note But there the Golden Same And when Some Night Bold slashing Clouds Cut Thee away from Me That’s easier than the other film That glazes Holiday
Feel free to be first to leave comment.