Analysis: "Each Life Converges To Some Centre - " by Emily Dickinson

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"Each Life Converges to some Centre --" By Emily Dickinson [Analysis]

Each Life Converges to some Centre --[1] Expressed -- or still --[2] Exists in every Human Nature[3] A Goal --[4] Embodied scarcely to itself -- it may be --[5] Too fair[6] For Credibility's presumption[7] To mar --[8] Adored with caution -- as a Brittle Heaven --[9] To reach[10] Were hopeless, as the Rainbow's Raiment[11] To touch --[12] Yet persevered toward -- sure -- for the Distance --[13] How high --[14] Unto the Saint's slow diligence --[15] The Sky --[16] Ungained -- it may be -- by a Life's low Venture --[17] But then --[18] Eternity enable the endeavoring[19] Again.[20]
Poem 680 [F724] "Each Life converges to some Centre" Analysis by David Preest [Poem]

We all have a Centre or a Goal, whether we mention it to others or not. We scarcely dare think of it, for it is too fair a prospect to be spoilt by the presumption that it will happen. Instead we must adore this heaven with caution as it is so 'Brittle,' and must regard its achievement as hopeless as touching the Rainbow. Even so we are not to give up. The more distant the goal, the surer must be our perseverance. After all the sky seemed immensely high to 'the Saints' slow diligence.' And if we do not reach our goal in this life, we can try again in Eternity. It is natural to wonder what Emily regarded as her own Goal. 'Fame from writing poems' comes to mind, but this goal hardly fits the last stanza, so perhaps more likely is the goal of absence of fear or of complete love or complete belief. Thomas Johnson in his Variorum Edition tells us that Emily also sent just the last stanza of this poem as a note to Sue and signed it 'Springfield.' As the Bowles family lived in Springfield, it may be, as Johnson suggests, that Emily is light-heartedly imagining Mr Bowles replying to some invitation from Sue by saying, 'Sorry, we can't come to your party. But ask us again in heaven.'
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