Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Emily Dickinson's "Did Our Best Moment last-" is a poem that captures the ephemeral quality of profound human experiences. These are moments so profound that they rival, or "supersede," the conceptual heaven. In four quatrains, Dickinson delves into the transient nature of sublime moments and their dual role as both elevators of human spirit and triggers for existential despair.

The poem does not adhere to a consistent rhyme pattern, adding to the complexity of the poem's subject matter. The poem itself doesn't settle into a predictable or comfortable pattern, which serves to further emphasize its thematic concern with the transience and unpredictability of sublime experiences. By using the word 'Moment' instead of 'Moments,' the poem engages with the idea of singularity: that a single, non-repeatable experience could supersede eternal bliss.

The first quatrain raises the possibility that if our "Best Moment" could last, it would overshadow the heavens. However, such moments are not readily "given"; they are procured "by Risk," perhaps suggesting that one has to venture beyond comfort zones to grasp these rare instances of total happiness or understanding.

The second quatrain suggests that these moments are often gifted as "stimulants" during "Cases of Despair" or "Stupor." They are the heavenly reserves for terrestrial beings in times of need, almost as if these moments are the divine's way of providing temporary relief from human suffering. Yet, their role as stimulants also suggests they can never be a permanent solution or state of being.

The third quatrain refers to these instants as "A Grant of the Divine," acknowledging their otherworldly quality. However, just as easily as these moments are given, they are also taken away, "withdrawn," leaving the individual "dazzled," perhaps even disoriented.

The final line introduces the image of "unfurnished Rooms," a metaphor for existential emptiness. The divine moments are so filling that once they depart, they leave a noticeable emptiness, a void that was perhaps unrecognizable before. It's as if experiencing the divine grants us a brief understanding of a higher plane of existence, making our regular, "unfurnished" lives appear lacking in comparison.

In summary, "Did Our Best Moment last-" offers a nuanced view of the most sublime instances in human life. While heavenly in their intensity, these moments are by nature fleeting, often leaving an emotional and existential void in their wake. It is a complex rendering of human emotions, provoking the reader to question whether these 'Best Moments' are gifts to be cherished or bitter-sweet reminders of the limitations of human experience.

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