Can somebody help me understand this poem?

Question

we never know how high we are
till we are asked to rise
and then if we are true to plan
our statures touch the skies
the heroism we recite
would be a normal thing
did not ourselves the cubits warp
for fear to be a king

Answer 1

We never know how much we have
Until we try to get more (power)
And then if we try hard
We'll get even more power
The greatness that we talk about
would be common
if we didn't scare ourselves into thinking we don't want anymore power

Basically it's about the key to being successful, which is to know your potential and be willing to take risks.

Answer 2

I think it means that we really don't see the level we are at until a higher bar is placed above us, that is, until we are invited to something more than we want or are used to giving. Yet, if we set our goals on the sight, on the prize, we can indeed reach it. But, the goal can often be cut down, the standard lowered by people themselves by saying it is not possible to attain that goal out of fear of actually succeeding because the success is something unknown and therefore scary in respect to the known and familiar mediocrity.

An example of this can be seen in the moral life. A standard can be raised, which shows us just how far we fall below. We could reach the standard if we tried, but instead it is easier to say that the standard is unattainable and settle for something lesser.

Answer 3

Everybody talks a great deal about how to fix the world's problems, but nobody wants to stand up and take initiative. However, when we do finally take a stand, we are capable of more than we realize.

Answer 4

The first part is about not realising how far weve come and how close we are to real happiness and then the middle, the brave new steps we take get us closer to our goal and then the end is about how we shouldnt be afraid to strive to fufil our potential.

Answer 5

I get the feeling it is kind of about pride and how tall we rise when we take a stand!!!

Hope it helps!! :)

Answer 6

.we place limitations on ourself..remove inhibitions self hate and criticism poem by emily dickinson

Answer 7

We do not realize our own potential
We are held down by other's constraints.