The Questioning Poet: A Close Reading Of Dickinsons 569

When one reads Emily Dickinson, one is expecting a piece of writing which is full of dread and discontent in the world. This is why at first glance poem number 569, or "I reckon- When I count at all-" one instantly feels taken aback by the apparent positive imagery that is found within the writing. However upon close reading one makes a realization that the poem is just as dark as her other pieces, if not even more upsetting. Although the beginning of the poem implies the idea of poets being creators, the last stanza undermines this idea and instead portrays the image of a poet questioning if it is possible that they are unintentionally filling the minds of their readers with false hopes and ideas about the Heavens and beauty, rather than being truthful with them; leading the masses to a false sense of security in God and the Heavens through the use of their artistic language; making this image the most important one in the poem.

First, one cannot deny the apparent positive imagery that Dickinson is portraying in the first few stanzas of 569. The image of the accountant creating a list of all the ideal things in the world that is depicted in the first stanza: "First- Poets- Then the Sun- Then Summer- Then the Heaven of God- And then- the List is done-" (2-4) immediately fills the reader with a positive sensation, as some of the most pleasurable thoughts for mankind are those which pertain to the mystical words that leave the poets pen, the warmth of the sunshine, the joy of summer, and the idea of the perfect plane of existence in Heaven. These images Create a positive image for the reader, leaving them excited to read on and see what else may be written.

Upon reaching stanza two Dickinson makes a claim that poets are al...

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... poem reflects upon the skeptical poet sitting writing this and moves towards a center ground of realization that while they may be forcing false ideas onto the population that reads their work, they cannot justify either way if the "Dream" that they are creating is reality or just a figment of their imagination which the people are now sucked into believing.

Despite the beauty described in the first few stanzas of the poem, it was the feeling of doubt and pondering that approached at the end of the poem that truly was the most thought provoking. Instead of just writing of beauty, Poets must realize that they may be leading people to false ideals, and in doing so that they may actually be causing individuals to believe in something that is nothing more than a dream. This realization makes the image of the questioning poet by far the most important in the piece.