Analysis: "A Saucer Holds A Cup" by Emily Dickinson

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"A Saucer holds a Cup" By Emily Dickinson [Analysis]

A Saucer holds a Cup[1] In sordid human Life[2] But in a Squirrel's estimate[3] A Saucer hold a Loaf.[4] A Table of a Tree[5] Demands the little King[6] And every Breeze that run along[7] His Dining Room do swing.[8] His Cutlery he keeps[9] Within his Russer Lips [10] To see it flashing when he dines[11] Do Birmingham eclipse [12] Convicted could we be[13] Of our Minutiae[14] The smallest Citizen that flies[15] Is heartier than we [16]
Poem 1374 [F1407] "A Saucer holds a Cup" Analysis by David Preest [Poem]

Emily sees a squirrel's life as superior to ours. For us 'a Saucer holds [just] a Cup,' but for the squirrel the Saucer of the calyx holds the Loaf of a nut. Then this 'little King' has a whole Tree for a table, and at mealtimes his flashing teeth outdo all the cutlery made in Birmingham. If it could only be brought home to us that we humans deal in 'Minutiae' of trivialities, we would conclude that the smallest creature that flies has more of a life than we do.
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