Heart, we will forget him, You and I, tonight! You must forget the warmth he gave, I will forget the light.
Emily DickinsonRead
After great pain, a formal feeling comes. The Nerves sit ceremonious, like tombs.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the numbness and formalities that often follow intense emotional pain.
Emily Dickinson's quote captures the nature of human emotions after experiencing profound pain. It suggests that, in the aftermath of suffering, individuals may adopt a detached and formal demeanor, almost as if they are in a state of mourning. The metaphor of nerves sitting 'ceremonious, like tombs' emphasizes the idea of being emotionally paralyzed, highlighting the stark contrast between the vibrancy of feelings and the stillness that often follows distress.
Themes
PainEmotionNumbnessSufferingCeremony
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about coping mechanisms after a traumatic event, this quote could highlight the process of emotional recovery.
More from Emily Dickinson
All quotes βI 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,β 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!
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My best Acquaintances are those With Whom I spoke no Word
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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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