We Cover Thee, Sweet Face
The poem explores the speaker's fascination with a person's face and its ability to convey emotions and tell stories. The speaker describes the face as a canvas of beauty and sorrow, with lines that speak of joy and pain. The poem delves into the complexities of human emotion and the ways in which our faces can reveal our inner lives. The speaker's tone is one of reverence and admiration for the person whose face they are describing. They see the face as a work of art, full of depth and nuance, and they are drawn to its beauty and mystery. Throughout the poem, the speaker uses imagery and metaphor to describe the face and its emotions. They compare the face to a landscape, with hills and valleys that speak of joy and sorrow. They also use the image of a canvas, suggesting that the face is a work of art that can be interpreted and understood in different ways. The poem ultimately suggests that the face is a window into the soul, revealing our deepest emotions and desires. The speaker's fascination with the face is not just aesthetic, but also emotional and psychological. They see the face as a reflection of the person's inner life, and they are drawn to its beauty and complexity.
By Emily Dickinson · First published 1846 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Elegy · 106 words
First lines
We cover thee, sweet face.
Not that we tire of thee, But that thyself fatigue of us; Remember, as thou flee, We follow thee until Thou notice us no more, And then, reluctant, turn away To con thee o'er and o'er, And blame the scanty love We were content to show, Augmented, sweet, a hundred fold If thou would'st take it now.
What this Textopian page supports
We Cover Thee, Sweet Face 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, Elegy, Romantic
- Length: 106 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Elegy — The themes of mourning and reflection on loss align with the elegiac tradition.
- Romantic — The focus on deep emotion and introspection is typical of Romantic literature.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Nature Imagery · Death and Mourning · Love Poetry · Symbolism · Imagery · Metaphor · Personification · Solitude · Isolation