My Life Had Stood - A Loaded Gun

 

 

 

 

My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun -

In Corners - till a Day

The Owner passed - identified -

And carried Me away -

And now We roam in Sovreign Woods -

And now We hunt the Doe -

And every time I speak for Him

The Mountains straight reply -

And do I smile, such cordial light

Opon the Valley glow -

It is as a Vesuvian face

Had let it’s pleasure through -

And when at Night - Our good Day done -

I guard My Master’s Head -

’Tis better than the Eider Duck’s

Deep Pillow - to have shared -

To foe of His - I’m deadly foe -

None stir the second time -

On whom I lay a Yellow Eye -

Or an emphatic Thumb -

Though I than He - may longer live

He longer must - than I -

For I have but the power to kill,

Without - the power to die -

 

-Emily Dickinson

 

Commentary

This seems to be a very dark and angry poem. It is not a regular anger, for Dickinson doesn't seem like that type, but instead is a calm and twisted anger. The anger that many haven't seem and it is often unexpected and surprising when it is released. In the first stanza, Dickinson seems to be comparing her life to a loaded gun. Her life is at a stopping point. Just like the gun is there until an owner, Dickinson waits for the dangerous emotions to claim her mind and take her away from it all. In the second stanza, Dickinson seems to be wondering about, her anger leading her. She hunts a doe, and speaks for Him. This could mean that Dickinson is wishing to release her anger on someone, yet the "speaking" is her way of releasing her anger. By the third stanza, Dickinson has begun to cool down some, yet the anger still lurks there. The smile isn't one of joy, but of anger. By the fourth stanza, it can be said that the anger has taken over. The anger is no longer her "owner", but is now the "master." Dickinson can not release the anger though, because that would be dangerous. In the fifth stanza, she speaks of her anger as being deadly to her enemies. By the end of the poem, Dickinson seems to be thankful for her anger. It is what makes her strong enough to kill, yet without it she will be killed. The whole poem is a lengthy metaphor. Dickinson and her anger are like a loaded gun and its owner. Dickinson isn't the one in control, her anger is. Just like when a person has a gun, they aren't in control, the gun controls them. The gun is what makes the person feel strong, like they can do anything. With it they can end a life, but without it, someone might end theirs. The same thing works with anger. It can fuel a rage in someone and cause them to do something drastic, but without it, a person can be taken down.