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A Day by Emily Dickinson


Summary and Analysis:

"A Day" is a relatable and well-written poem that explores life and death using memorable images of sunrise and sunset. The speaker, a child, starts the poem confidently describing the sunrise but becomes less sure when talking about the sunset. This change in tone reflects the child's innocence and encourages readers to appreciate the beauty of nature.

The poem begins with the child confidently explaining how the sun rises and what follows. The child is excited about seeing birds, hills, and the sun itself, showing their innocent view of the world and only seeing its beauty. The early stanzas depict the busy nature of life.

As the poem goes on, the child becomes less confident when describing the sunset. The child admits not knowing much about it but describes the sky turning purple as the sun sets until it is completely dark. This symbolizes the inactivity associated with dying and shows how little we know about death.

I’ll tell you how the Sun rose –
A Ribbon at a time –
The Steeples swam in Amethyst –
The news, like Squirrels, ran –

The poem starts with the child describing how the sun rises, calling its rays "ribbons." The sunrise is gradual but significant, and news of it spreads quickly. The child's excitement about sunrise shows their innocent view of the world and the importance of appreciating nature's changes, like sunrise. Metaphorically, this stanza hints at the excitement of birth. The mention of "Steeples" shows Dickinson’s religious background.

The Hills untied their Bonnets –
The Bobolinks – begun –
Then I said softly to myself –
‘That must have been the Sun!’

The second stanza describes what happens after the sun rises. The hills light up, and the bobolinks (a type of blackbird) start singing. This highlights natural events responding to sunrise and encourages readers to appreciate nature. The child’s awe is clear when they say, "That must have been the Sun!" showing their innocent perspective.

But how he set – I know not –
There seemed a purple stile
Which little Yellow boys and girls
Were climbing all the while –

In the third stanza, the topic shifts from sunrise to sunset, and the child's tone changes from excited to reserved. The child is less confident about sunset and describes it more soberly. This stanza symbolizes the transition from life to death and reflects how little we know about dying. The literal imagery shows the sun moving from east to west.

Till when they reached the other side,
A Dominie in Gray –
Put gently up the evening Bars –
And led the flock away –

In the final stanza, Dickinson's faith is evident. Using Christian references like "flock" and "Dominie in gray," she shows her view of death. The "Dominie in gray" represents God, and "flock" represents humans. Dickinson believes God leads people after they die. Literally, this stanza describes the evening when the sun sets, and the speaker's excitement fades, ending the poem on a sober note.

Literary Devices used in the Poem:

In Emily Dickinson's poem "A Day," several literary devices are used:

  • Symbolism: The main device in the poem is symbolism. The entire poem represents the transition from life to death. Each stanza hints at human behaviors related to life and death, suggesting what might come after death from a religious viewpoint.

  • Metaphor: Metaphors are also prominent in the poem. Dickinson makes direct comparisons to create vivid imagery. In the first stanza, she calls sunrays "ribbons." In the third stanza, she refers to the sunrays as "Yellow boys and girls." The "Dominie in gray" in the fourth stanza symbolizes "God" or a religious figure, and the "flock" represents people. The "evening bars" in the fourth stanza stand for the end of the day or the end of life.

  • Simile: There is a simile in the first stanza, where the spreading "news" of the sunrise is compared to the speed of a squirrel running.

  • Personification: Personification appears in the poem as well. In the first stanza, "Steeples" are described as swimming like humans. In the second stanza, "hills" are depicted as removing their "bonnets" like women do.

  • Alliteration: Alliteration can be found in the poem too. In the first stanza, the "s" sound is repeated, and in the second stanza, the "b" sound is prevalent. 
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