Emily Dickinson (10 December 1830 – 15 May 1886 / Amherst / Massachusetts)
Poems by Emily Dickinson : 6 / 1084
"Houses"—so the Wise Men tell me
127
"Houses"—so the Wise Men tell me—
"Mansions"! Mansions must be warm!
Mansions cannot let the tears in,
Mansions must exclude the storm!
"Many Mansions," by "his Father,"
I don't know him; snugly built!
Could the Children find the way there—
Some, would even trudge tonight!
Emily Dickinson
Submitted: Monday, January 13, 2003
Read poems about / on: father, children, child, house
Poems by Emily Dickinson : 6 / 1084
Comments about this poem ("Houses"—so the Wise Men tell me by Emily Dickinson )
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I'm doing a project on Emily Dickinson for my 11th grade American Literature class, and i need to find a poem by Miss Emily Dickinson and then analyze it, i chose this poem, but i don't really understand it, so if anybody could please explain it to me and help me to better understand it, i would be extremely grateful.
The poet begins by using 'mansions' as an illustration for security against the misery of the human condition. The second verse makes reference to the bible and the words Jesus said of his father - God.
The poet concludes that Faith is easier to attain for little children (than adults) because of their innocence;
There is a sense of disilusion in this poem. Wisdom indicates enlightenment and perhaps the poet is sceptical of the advice given; thus the title 'so the wise men tell me'.