The Enigmatic Love: Emily Dickinson's Poems about Sue

Emily Dickinson, a renowned American poet, is known for her introspective and enigmatic works. While much of her poetry explores themes of nature, death, and spirituality, another recurring subject emerges in her writings - her relationship with Sue Gilbert Dickinson, her sister-in-law and close confidante. Dickinson's poems about Sue offer a glimpse into the complexities of their bond, capturing the intensity of their connection and the profound emotions it evoked.

The Intensity of Friendship

One of the poems that reflects the depth of Dickinson's bond with Sue is "Wild Nights - Wild Nights!" This piece encapsulates the fervor and longing that characterized their relationship. It reads:

Wild nights! Wild nights!

Were I with thee,

Wild nights should be

Our luxury!

Futile - the winds -

To a Heart in port -

Done with the Compass -

Done with the Chart!

Rowing in Eden -

Ah - the Sea!

Might I but moor - Tonight -

In thee!

Through the use of vivid imagery and intense emotions, Dickinson captures the longing she felt for Sue. The poem suggests that their connection transcends the ordinary, with nights spent together being a form of transcendent luxury.

Love and Loss

While Dickinson's poems about Sue exhibit an intense love, they also convey a sense of loss and unattainability. In "I taste a liquor never brewed," she explores the yearning and despair she experienced when separated from her beloved. The poem reads:

I taste a liquor never brewed -

From Tankards scooped in Pearl -

Not all the Frankfort Berries

Yield such an Alcohol!

Inebriate of air - am I -

And Debauchee of Dew -

Reeling - thro' endless summer days -

From inns of Molten Blue -

When "Landlords" turn the drunken Bee

Out of the Foxglove's door -

When Butterflies - renounce their "drams" -

I shall but drink the more!

This poem suggests that Sue's absence leaves Dickinson feeling intoxicated and longing for their connection. The vivid imagery of "endless summer days" and being a "Debauchee of Dew" highlights the intensity of her emotions.

Unspoken Desires

In addition to expressing her love, Dickinson's poems about Sue also hint at unspoken desires. In "To know just how he suffered," Dickinson explores the pain of longing for something unattainable, possibly alluding to her longing for a romantic relationship with Sue. The poem reads:

To know just how he suffered would be dear;

To know if any human eyes were near

To whom he could intrust his wavering gaze,

Until it settled firm on Paradise.

The poem implies that Dickinson yearned to comfort Sue and be the one she could trust with her deepest emotions. The mention of Paradise suggests that Dickinson saw her love for Sue as a form of transcendence.

Emily Dickinson's poems about Sue offer a profound insight into their unique and complex relationship. Through her words, Dickinson captures the intensity of their bond, the longing in their separation, and the unspoken desires that lingered between them. These poems serve as a testament to the depth of their connection and provide a glimpse into the private world of two extraordinary women.