891.1864. I learned—at least—what Home could be—
I learned—at least—what Home could be—
How ignorant I had been
Of pretty ways of Covenant—
How awkward at the Hymn
Round our new Fireside—but for this—
This pattern—of the Way—
Whose Memory drowns me, like the Dip
Of a Celestial Sea—
What Mornings in our Garden—guessed—
What Bees—for us—to hum—
With only Birds to interrupt
The Ripple of our Theme—
And Task for Both—
When Play be done—
Your Problem—of the Brain—
And mine—some foolisher effect—
A Ruffle—or a Tune—
The Afternoons—Together spent—
And Twilight—in the Lanes—
Some ministry to poorer lives—
Seen poorest—thro’ our gains—
And then Return—and Night—and Home—
And then away to You to pass—
A new—diviner—care—
Till Sunrise take us back to Scene—
Transmuted—Vivider—
This seems a Home—
And Home is not—
But what that Place could be—
Afflicts me—as a Setting Sun—
Where Dawn—knows how to be—
………………………………………………………………………………..
My interpretation of F891:
STANZA 1 – ED begins by saying “I learned – at least – what Home could be” and also “How ignorant I had been” of what a home could be. She’s trying to put a positive spin on an experience that, if timing had allowed, might have been more rewarding.
Two words, “Covenant” and “Hymn”, set a religious tone for this poem. “A covenant is a relational, loyalty-based pledge that binds the parties themselves and is based on trust.” Think marriage vows.
“A hymn is a religious song written for the purpose of adoration, prayer, or praise, typically addressed to a deity, gods, or a sacred figure.” (Google AI). ED had felt awkward singing hymns until she experienced a “Covenant” with “You” [Line 22].
STANZA 2 – tells us the time and power of ED’S experience.
ED’s new “pretty ways of Covenant” allow her to “unawkwardly” sing “Hymns // Round our new Fireside”. Lines 7-8, “Whose Memory drowns me, like the Dip / Of a Celestial Sea –” lets us know that ED is writing from “Memory”, after the experience, and that the experience felt heavenly, like drowning in the Milky Way.
STANZA 3 – informs us that ED is guessing “What Mornings in our Garden” would be like: “What Bees – for us – to hum – / With only Birds to interrupt”. ED knows she “guessed” this experience.
STANZA 4 – ED imagines what tasks her partner and she would do after their morning “Play be done”. Her partner would solve a “Problem – of the Brain – / And mine – some foolisher effect -”
STANZA 5 – reveals that the couple’s “Afternoons – together spent – / And Twilight – in the Lanes –”. And, important biographically, they give “Some ministry to poorer lives”. For me, this “ministry” line and the “Covenant” and “Hymns” of Stanza 1 are compelling evidence that ED’s partner is a minister.
STANZA 6 – segues back to home: “And then Return – and Night – and Home -”.
STANZA 7 – modestly lets us know their sex life is wonderful: “And then away to You to pass – / A new – diviner – Care – / Till Sunrise take us back to Scene -”
STANZA 8 – ED explains that her poem is the life she wished she had had if only she had been “Empress of Calvary” (F194, ‘Title divine is mine’) or the “Queen of Calvary” (F347, ‘I dreaded that first Robin, so’). “Calvary” was the code name of Reverend Charles Wadsworth.
But ED is not crazy; she knows she is not Mrs. Charles Wadsworth. Her life is what it is, at Homestead, with her sister and parents:
“This seems a Home – And Home is not –
But what that Place could be –
Afflicts me – as a Setting Sun –
Where Dawn – knows how to be –”
This poem made me cry – my home was like ED’s, except we weren’t rich.