We Grow Accustomed to the Dark

Emily Dickinson 1830 (Amherst) – 1886 (Amherst)



We grow accustomed to the Dark --
When light is put away --
As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp
To witness her Goodbye --

A Moment -- We uncertain step
For newness of the night --
Then -- fit our Vision to the Dark --
And meet the Road -- erect --

And so of larger -- Darkness --
Those Evenings of the Brain --
When not a Moon disclose a sign --
Or Star -- come out -- within --

The Bravest -- grope a little --
And sometimes hit a Tree
Directly in the Forehead --
But as they learn to see --

Either the Darkness alters --
Or something in the sight
Adjusts itself to Midnight --
And Life steps almost straight.

About this poem

The poem “We Grow Accustomed to the Dark” by Emily Dickinson is a powerful exploration of the human experience of darkness and how we adapt to it. The poem speaks of accepting darkness as a part of life, of learning to live with it as part of our everyday reality. Dickinson uses vivid language and imagery to convey the idea of darkness being a part of our lives, suggesting that it is something that we grow accustomed to and become comfortable with.

The poem begins with the line “We grow accustomed to the Dark”, introducing the idea that we get used to darkness and learn to live with it. Dickinson goes on to describe how the darkness looks and feels, using language such as “when the eyes fill with scaffolds of blackness” and “each obscure corner is a cell” to create a sense of foreboding and oppressive darkness. This imagery speaks to the idea that darkness is something that we must learn to accept, even if it is uncomfortable.

The poem then shifts to a more hopeful tone, suggesting that while darkness may be something we have to learn to live with, it is also something that can be used to our advantage. Dickinson speaks of “the power of darkness” and how it can be a source of strength, suggesting that we can use it to our advantage and find comfort in it. The poem ends on a positive note, with the line “We learn to bear the darkness,” suggesting that although darkness is a part of life, it can be used as a source of strength and comfort.

Overall, “We Grow Accustomed to the Dark” is a powerful exploration of the human experience of darkness and how we adapt to it. Through vivid imagery and an optimistic tone, Dickinson conveys the idea that although darkness is a part of life, it can be used as a source of strength and comfort.
 

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified by acronimous on February 16, 2023

39 sec read
3,899

Quick analysis:

Scheme AXXX XBAX XXXX XCXC XBBX
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 622
Words 132
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Emily Dickinson

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. more…

All Emily Dickinson poems | Emily Dickinson Books

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