Emily Dickinson

613

They shut me up in Prose--
I think that this line is producing a feeling that Dickinson was feeling whens she wrote the poem. possibly meaning that with the way maybe her family life was working she was stuck in writing prose or poetry. It makes me feel tense like she was stuck and i would not like to be in her situation 


As when a little Girl
little, its a cute word to me. She was once a little girl and this line expresses that vulnerability. The word they in the first line makes it seem like she was the baby of the family. she was young. makes me want to reminisce on my past as a little girl and relive all the little memories

They put me in the Closet --
I dont think that this literally means she was shut it a closet, possibly figuratively trapped, she feels trapped. my initial reaction was surprised to this line. it explains the being shut in prose idea
Because they liked me "still" --
being trapped in a closet makes me feel like you could do nothing but be still because you are trapped in a closet anyway. there is not an inch to move around in. they thought they were keeping her still but she was writing away without them even knowing anyway. this makes me think about the thoughts
I have about things and how I keep them to myself sometimes. Certain things are not talked about. This line makes me feel pain and confinement I wouldnt want to be kept still and not be free
Still! Could themself have peeped --
this line makes me think of the behind the scenes idea. you never know whats happening behind the curtains
 And seen my Brain -- go round --
If they were looking then they would see the behind the scenes work that was going on.
They might as wise have lodged a Bird
don't hurt the birdies! I think that this corresponding with the next line because its not finished but I think that the two combined are trying to explain that she didnt do anything wrong and she is being "shut up" for no reason at all
For Treason -- in the Pound --
the closet is the pound. this makes me think of a dog pound. being stuck somewhere you dont belong because nobody wanted you or because you wandered and got lost
Himself has but to will
If you want something you have to get it yourself. if you dont have motivation to do it  then you can do nothing.
And easy as a Star
once the motivation is there then its easy
Abolish his Captivity --
being figuratively stuck means that you can just get right out of the situation by breaking the ties of the captivity with your own will 
And laugh -- No more have I --
When you realize you are strong enough to do something you will laugh at how someone thought they could cage you and how you let yourself stay trapped

I think what sticks out the most to me is just the fact that throughout such a small and short poem, such a huge journey goes on. it starts with Dickinson is being oppressed and she finally comes out free. the other thing that stands out is the fact that she is overcoming the captivity of her life and this inspires me to do the same thing. She's not letting them oppress her anymore.