Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Exclusion”" is a poem by Emily Dickinson, an American poet who lived from 1830 to 1886. The poem was first published posthumously in 1890.

The speaker describes the soul as being able to select its own society, or the people and groups that it chooses to associate with. The soul is depicted as having a divine majority that it chooses to keep present, while shutting out others.

The poem goes on to describe how the soul remains unmoved by the presence of powerful people such as an emperor kneeling at her mat, emphasizing the power and independence of the soul. The soul is also described as being able to choose one person from an ample nation, or a large group of people, and then closing off her attention to others like a stone.

The poem suggests that the soul has the power to choose its own path and to decide who it associates with. The choice of society is a personal decision, and the soul has the power to shut out those who do not align with its values or desires. The poem also emphasizes the power of the soul to remain unmoved by external factors such as power or influence, emphasizing the internal strength and independence of the soul.

Overall, the poem suggests that the soul has the power to make its own choices and to select its own society, emphasizing the power of individual agency and independence.