I need people's opinion of this poem from Emily Dickinson?

Question

After great pain, a formal feeling comes
The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Toombs
The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore,
And Yesterday, or Centuries before?

The Feet, mechanical, go round
Of Ground, or Air, or Ought
A Wooden way
Regardless grown,
A Quartz contentment, like a stone

This is the Hour of Lead
Remembered, if outlived,
As Freezing persons recollect the Snow
First-Chill-then Stupor-then the letting go

What do you think it means or your interpretations?

Answer 1

i love it and i think it means by hour of lead to engage something or rise above something. i think it also shows a history before a revolution like in the valley forge during war. so am i crazy for this?

Answer 2

I think the poem has to do with dying and death; the imagery is very evocative of it:

A formal feeling after great pain, Tombs, stiff hearts, stone, hour of lead, outlived, freezing persons, first chill - then stupor - then the letting go.

Also, the idea of a clock (time ticking away) - the feet, mechanical, go round, a wooden way, a quartz contentment, plus all the references to time: yesterday or centuries before, the hour of lead

Answer 3

according to this article this poem describes the delicate emotional equilibrium of someone who has been through recent trauma or profound grief and yes it says that there is a funeral feel to the poem as wel. thank you for posting this, i would have never known the poem otherwise (not so much into poetry am I) but it is very apropos.

Answer 4

It sucks