Power by Emily Dickinson (1890)
The poem explores the concept of power and its relationship to the self. It describes a speaker who has been given immense power, but feels isolated and disconnected from others due to it. The speaker's emotions are complex, oscillating between feelings of freedom and confinement. The poem suggests that power can be both liberating and suffocating, depending on one's perspective.
By Emily Dickinson · First published 1890 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Metaphysical · 72 words
First lines
You cannot put a fire out; / A thing that can ignite / Can go, itself, without a fan / Upon the slowest night.
You cannot fold a flood / And put it in a drawer, -- / Because the winds would find it out, / And tell your cedar floor.
What this Textopian page supports
Power is listed on Textopian as a poem by Emily Dickinson, dated 1890 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: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Metaphysical
- Length: 72 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
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- Work identity for Power by Emily Dickinson
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Philosophical — The themes explore abstract concepts such as the nature of power and inevitability, which are common in philosophical works.
- Metaphysical — The use of metaphor and exploration of intangible forces aligns with metaphysical literature.
Tags
Poetry · Philosophy · Existentialism · Mortality · Nature · Spirituality · Faith · Doubt · Power Dynamics · Social Hierarchy · Individuality · Freedom