Heart, we will forget him, You and I, tonight! You must forget the warmth he gave, I will forget the light.
Emily DickinsonRead
A charm invests a face Imperfectly beheld,— The lady dare not lift her veil For fear it be dispelled. But peers beyond her mesh, And wishes, and denies,— Lest interview annul a want That image satisfies.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses the fear of losing the allure of the mysterious and idealized perception of a person when they are fully revealed.
In this quote, Emily Dickinson explores the complexities of desire and perception in love. The imagery of a veiled lady suggests that sometimes people prefer to maintain a certain level of mystery in relationships, as it allows them to hold onto an idealized version of someone. The fear of unveiling, and thus potentially dispelling the charm that comes with mystery, reflects the delicate balance between longing and reality in romantic interactions.
Themes
LoveMysteryDesirePerceptionRelationships
In practice
Example use cases
In a wedding speech, to highlight the beauty of mystery in a couple's relationship.
More from Emily Dickinson
All quotes →I held a jewel in my fingers And went to sleep. The day was warm, and winds were prosy; I said: "'T will keep." I woke and chid my honest fingers,— The gem was gone; And now an amethyst remembrance Is all I own.
Emily DickinsonRead
I'll tell you how the sun rose, a ribbon at a time. The steeples swam in amethyst, The news like squirrels ran. The hills untied their bonnets, The bobolinks begun. Then I said softly to myself, "That must have been the sun!
Emily DickinsonRead
My best Acquaintances are those With Whom I spoke no Word
Emily DickinsonRead
This is the Hour of Lead- Remembered, if outlived, As freezing persons, recollect the Snow- First-Chill-then Stupor- then the letting go---
Emily DickinsonRead
Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned.
Emily DickinsonRead
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