Poem Analysis - You Ll Know It As You Know Tis Noon

A Certainty Beyond Words

Emily Dickinson's "You’ll Know It as You Know ‘Tis Noon" is a short but powerful exploration of certainty, intuition, and the ineffable nature of the divine. The poem begins with a confident declaration, asserting the unquestionable nature of certain knowledge. A tone of assuredness pervades the first half, gradually transitioning into a contemplative reflection on how we perceive the most profound realities. Ultimately, the poem suggests that true understanding transcends explicit explanation, relying instead on innate perception and direct experience.

Intuition as the Key to Knowledge

One of the central themes is the power of intuition as a means of grasping profound truths. The poem argues that some things are simply known, bypassing the need for logical explanation. The opening lines draw a parallel between knowing it's noon and knowing God, suggesting that both are apprehended through an almost innate sense of recognition: "You’ll know it as you know ’tis Noon / By Glory / As you do the Sun / By Glory." This "Glory" is not defined, but implies a radiant, self-evident truth. Similarly, the second stanza insists that "Mightiest Things / Assert themselves and not by terms," implying that the greatest realities do not require verbal articulation to be understood. The very force of their existence is enough to announce them.

The Unspeakable Omnipotence

The poem grapples with the theme of divine omnipotence and its inherent limitations when expressed through human language. Dickinson posits that true power transcends verbal expression: "Omnipotence had not a Tongue." Instead, God's power manifests in the natural world: "His listp is Lightning and the Sun / His Conversation with the Sea." The poem suggests that attempting to define God through words is inadequate; instead, we must observe the manifestations of divine power in the world around us. This reinforces the idea that some truths are best understood through observation and feeling, rather than explicit explanation.

Symbolism of Light and Majesty

Dickinson employs powerful imagery, particularly using light as a symbol for understanding and the divine. The sun and lightning are recurrent images, representing the undeniable presence and power of God. The comparison of knowing God to knowing the sun at noon suggests a certainty and clarity that cannot be questioned. The use of "Midnight" and "Sunrise" further emphasizes this point. Midnight does not need to announce its own darkness, nor does Sunrise need to declare its majesty. Their very existence speaks for itself. This symbolism reinforces the poem's message that true understanding often arises from direct, unmediated experience.

Seeing is Believing

The final lines, "How shall you know? / Consult your Eye!" serve as a direct invitation to the reader to trust their own perception. This emphasis on direct experience reinforces the theme of intuition and the limitations of language. It suggests that the divine is not something to be understood through intellectual analysis or theological discourse, but rather something to be perceived directly through one's own senses. The "Eye" is not just a physical organ but also a symbol of inner vision and intuitive understanding. Perhaps the poem is also implying that the divine is always present, but one must be open and receptive to "see" it.

Concluding Thoughts: Trusting Inner Knowledge

In conclusion, "You’ll Know It as You Know ‘Tis Noon" is a powerful meditation on the nature of certainty and the limitations of language. Dickinson argues that some truths, particularly those relating to the divine, are best understood through intuition and direct experience. The poem encourages the reader to trust their own inner knowledge and to look beyond words to perceive the profound realities that surround them. Ultimately, Dickinson’s poem suggests that true understanding arises not from what we are told, but from what we inherently know.