Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In Emily Dickinson's short but impactful poem "Friendship," the themes of constancy, commitment, and the sublime aspects of platonic love are explored with characteristic brevity and depth. The poem presents the idea of friendship as an unwavering force, akin to natural elements that endure through time. It serves as an oath of loyalty, where the speaker pledges unwavering friendship unless the immutable aspects of nature change-something both the speaker and the reader know to be unlikely.

The poem opens with a rhetorical question that employs natural elements as metaphors for steadfastness: "Alter? When the hills do." In this line, the hills symbolize something ancient and unchanging, suggesting that the speaker's friendship will endure as long as these geological formations. This notion is further emphasized with the second rhetorical question: "Falter? When the sun / Question if his glory / Be the perfect one." Here, the sun stands for glory and constancy, ever-present and unyielding. The speaker's friendship, akin to the sun's glory, is offered as steadfast and unquestionable.

The poem then shifts to a beautiful metaphor involving daffodils and dew: "Surfeit? When the daffodil / Doth of the dew." A daffodil is a flower that signals renewal and the arrival of spring, often representing new beginnings. Dew, on the other hand, is ephemeral, vanishing with the sun's rays. The daffodil never tires of the dew just as the speaker will never tire of the friend. It's as if the friendship is both nourishing and revitalizing, yet not overwhelming-a delicate balance that is as harmonious as that between the flower and the dew.

The closing lines provide a profound resolution: "Even as herself, O friend! / I will of you!" The speaker promises to feel for the friend just as the daffodil does for the dew. The speaker will never tire of the friend, symbolizing an enduring, almost eternal, friendship that mimics the enduring qualities of nature itself.

The contextual framework of Emily Dickinson's era-the 19th century-offers a time when friendships were often considered as binding and ethically driven relationships, almost an alternative to romantic or familial ties. Given the societal norms of the time, the depth of a platonic relationship was frequently considered on par with other forms of emotional connection. Dickinson's expression in the poem reflects this cultural perception, elevating friendship to a level of almost sacred commitment.

In summary, "Friendship" by Emily Dickinson is a poignant ode to the enduring nature of true friendship. By employing metaphors drawn from the natural world, the poem emphasizes the idea that a sincere friendship is as constant and unchanging as the hills and the sun. The daffodil metaphor further enriches the text, suggesting that friendship is as revitalizing and beautifully simple as the relationship between a flower and the morning dew. Through this, Dickinson crafts a timeless message about the unwavering and nourishing nature of true friendship.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...