Alter? when the Hills Do by Emily Dickinson
The poem explores themes of mortality and the transience of life. The speaker describes a scene where hills are altered by some unseen force, symbolizing the inevitability of change and decay. The poem's tone is contemplative and melancholic, inviting the reader to reflect on their own place within the natural world.
By Emily Dickinson · First published 1846 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Nature · 61 words
First lines
Alter? When the hills do. / Falter? When the sun / Question if his glory / Be the perfect one.
Surfeit? When the daffodil / Doth of the dew: / Even as herself, O friend! / I will of you!
What this Textopian page supports
Alter? when the Hills Do is listed on Textopian as a poem by Emily Dickinson, dated 1846 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Emily Dickinson
- Date: 1846 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Nature, Romantic
- Length: 61 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
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Similar titles
- Ive Got An Arrow Here by Emily Dickinson
- Almost by Emily Dickinson
- Superfluous Were The Sun by Emily Dickinson
- A Throe Upon The Features by Emily Dickinson
- Melodies Unheard by Emily Dickinson
- To March by Emily Dickinson
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm and meter.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and feelings, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Nature — The poem uses natural imagery such as hills, sun, and daffodils to convey its themes.
- Romantic — The poem reflects themes of beauty and emotion, common in Romantic literature.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Nature Imagery · Death and Mortality · Existentialism · Philosophy · Spirituality · Mortality · Life Cycle · Seasonal Change · Symbolism