~~~POEM-A-DAY~~~Emily Dickinson~~~"Before the ice is in the pools -" 37/1775

Before the ice is in the pools —
Before the skaters go,
Or any check at nightfall
Is tarnished by the snow —

Before the fields have finished,
Before the Christmas tree,
Wonder upon wonder
Will arrive to me!

What we touch the hems of
On a summer's day —
What is only walking
Just a bridge away —

That which sings so — speaks so —
When there's no one here —
Will the frock I wept in
Answer me to wear?

by Emily Dickinson

This poem reminds me of the fact that it is, and somewhat coincidentally, some say most synchronistically an incredibly amazing connection to something intangible but almost close enough to touch. And yes, because today is the Autumnal Equinox and a Full Moon! As well Jupiter is closer than it has been in over twenty-three years. The fact there are also three celestial orbs in alignment does not do anything to dispell the great mystery of today. And my fascinating attachement to Ms Emily Dickinson.

So there is a lot is going on, astronomically speaking, and now this poem is showing signs of being almost placed so carefully in front of me to speaking directly to me about the approaching winter at this pivotal time of the Autumnal Equinox? This is almost Transcendental is scope if not Divine Providence. It is too much, these worlds merging, this distant past, yet so close I can feel Emily's summer frock hem unravelling to reveal some truths about how she truly feels about life. Today I feel somewhat weak-kneed but am in a much better mood now since I Divine Love does sustains me as though Emily is reaching out through time and space to touch His hem, His countenance, His Being which is Our Being One In The Spirit. Too Much!

After I have collected my emotional rapture today I realize that Emily is being so knowingly thus coyingly elusive in this poem. One has to ponder why. I have to question the specific techniques and analogies, literary features of this poem as I afraid, I as of yet I do not fully understand exactly the gist of this poem!

Or any check at nightfall
Is tarnished by the snow —

What exactly does Emily mean here? I have NO idea. I think maybe Emily would have to check the chickens at nightfall and the "tarnished" by snow could be...I don't know what snow tarnishes? Does Emily mean frost? That things frost up. Is "tarnished" Emilese for "frosted"? I could hazard to guess it does. Ok I get it now. Emily is chilled to the bone at nightfall (which now comes early around 6 pm), the sun having set so early in the late afternoon now and she so longer for those summer days. Who doesn't! How many times I pray we have an Indian summer all the way til late November (at least). It did save me this late summer and sustain me. So maybe this happened to Emily too, Winter bringing an onslaught of pnemonias, disease, plight, cold frosty night where people freeze to death in a sea of sleep of winter which Emily sees as "no fun at all". Emily loves summer! Me too!

Also, I have no clue as to what the two last stanzas mean, no not at all!

What we touch the hems of
On a summer's day —
What is only walking
Just a bridge away —

That which sings so — speaks so —
When there's no one here —
Will the frock I wept in
Answer me to wear?

Again, I can only hazard to guess here. Miss Emily has mentioned "hems" before. As if she is "hemmed in"? Her soul wants to soar but it is anchored to the earth by her body? Or is this a biblical reference to Jesus' hem, when a blind man reached out to touch Jesus hem on his garment, the man was healed from blindness. Jesus said "Your faith has healed you".

And does the snow represent more than the approaching winter which tends to "hem in" Ms Emily into a cloistered world which is now dead to her, seeing as she is a "summer" person. Emily so full of life and love of life, watching all God's creature's, loving the nature's dance during those long summer months?

Emily and the "bridge" to the great "hereafter" is only a "bridge away".
And what about "that which sings so - speaks so -"? What does this mean? "When there's no one here -" Does she speak of the birds she misses during the summer. those dear birds who sing so sweetly over the plains or at least her state MA?

When all have gone to their happy hunting ground aka heaven; all creatures great and small? Is this the subject of which Ms Emily speaks? Or the songs and the speaking is all about what is professed at church, school, etc? Most elusive is the last two lines;

Making reference to the "hem" in the previous stanza Emily now brings back the couture/haberdashery/textile/clothing reference.

Will the frock I wept in
Answer me to wear?

What is Emily sayint? The frock being so unwanted now that it is winter, in this poem, is not a welcomed frock. Emily "wept" in this frock, and now is forced to wear like her mother saying kurtly, hurry up Emily; you better put on this warmer dress; I don't want to see you wearing that summer frock anymore this year!" and Emily abhoring heavier clothing wanting to be as light as her spirit, dreaded to wear the heavy woolen dresses that make her sweat and itch. Maybe Ms Emily was allergic to wool, or maybe wool reminded her of death or that dress she must put on again was worn during a funeral of someone dear to her and she cannot think of wearing that dress again. Do you think I've made any headway in understanding this poem today? Comments always much more than welcome!

Chiccoreal's Take on Emily Dickinson's "Before The Ice Is In The Pools - "

Oh could it be
Summer's dance
can continue
well past the fall
past yesterday's dreams
past life regression
I'm Emily!
that I could don
and dance til dawn
one more time
that frock made of summer's
liquid air
light as a feather
touched and tinged with golden
wing tips
dancing shoes
to dream again
honey sweet
this treat to last
forever

jj