Emily Dickinson "If I should cease to bring a Rose" 56/1775

If I should cease to bring a Rose by Emily Dickinson 56/1775

If I should cease to bring a Rose
Upon a festal day,
'Twill be because beyond the Rose
I have been called away —
If I should cease to take the names
My buds commemorate —
'Twill be because Death's finger
Claps my murmuring lip!

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/If_I_should_cease_to_bring_a_Rose


Emily is quite surreal in this allegorical poem. As to her quest to use the word "'Twill" which I am certain is similar to "'Tis". A colloquial term used in certain earnestness during Emily's time.

The "festal day" being? The Day of Death? Or someone's death day? Remembrance at the cemetery where Emily places a single rose on the tomb/plot of her loved ones praying for them to come home to where Spirit fully lives alive and well.

When Emily is "called away" which means she is absolutely no longer able to continue the living memorial because she is no longer existing aka she is facing certain death herself and can no longer be the heroine. But only for a time; 'twill death can no longer touch body parts like "lips". Spiritual "lips"? Ghost "lips"? Wonders what spiritual "lips" look like...and "murmuring" at that. Don't there is much life left in "murmuring" lips. Notice Emily does not say "praying" lips. Murmuring. Hmmm...

'Twill because death's finger
Claps my murmuring lips

This seems to be the only reason as to why someone else's death commemoration would be cancelled for the "festal" time. "Festal" being to Emily a time of great Rebirth of Spiritual gifts as death is a natural progression to the life everlasting.

It would only be "death's finger" holding her back from performing her sworn duty to her "buds" or leaving her "buds" roses that have failed to fully open; also a symbol of the premature death of many of her friends and family.

If I should cease to take the names

What is interesting here is the idea of "to take the names" rather than say the names as one would do when one is living and saying a prayer over a beloved's gravesite. Emily is taking the names of her beloved to the throne room in Heaven upon her death. It is her will to do so, it 'Twill be done...come death's nasty finger holding her prayerful lips or not. Death does seem quite evil here! Yet Death too, undoubtedly 'Twill not stop Emily!

Very macabre, yet brave of dear sweet Emily battling Death with great awe-inspiring spiritual strength from within her tiny being and faith in her belief-system whatever brand of Christian esoterica that may be.

Chiccoreal Ponders Emily's poem "If I should cease to bring a rose"

Await green light
nascent buds
friends awaiting an invitation
once prayers for sinners is said
and standing in the gap
is Emily
praying for all friends
to arise
to awaken to the new day
to rise up from ashen slumber
where time and space has placed

Death no longer has a weapon
we fear not the murky depths
save
for
death staying around
nor reaping benefit elsewheres
Death may take away briefly
My bud's festivus
or Festal Day
The Grand and Glorious Day
Of New Beginnings in the
New Heaven and New Earth

Death be assured
you can only have this revenge
if you can pry this bud's death grip
if you can loosen my unflinching grip
pry my cold dead fingers
from around the cold and prickly stem
a drop of blood trickles down
to touch the ground

from Death's icy grip
where is the remedy?
Oh gripe again!
That nasty Death-knell
Will never let me loose
yet i can never lose
now that I see the gates
Opening up to let us in
Spirit now
be ever viligant Virgil
as Death wants to mob rule
use fear-mongering as a tool
Life will Always be the winner
dear spirit spright
always to be the winner
of our lives of love
Give Death the boot
kick Death back to the pit

Death to Death!
a complete submission
no remission
Death's once owned our souls
not too long ago
now so far gone these deadly ways
to Hades sealed with 7 seals
and the 7 deadly sins
and long dead 4 horses and men of
The Cryptic Apocalptic Curse;
the curse of sin long
forgotten in the sea forgetfulness
Life Now Has Victory Over Death!!!

jj