Max’s Musings: Emily Dickinson

What does a poet do when they struggle with their identity?

Emily Dickinson stands as one of the backbones of American poetry. When I started Max’s Musings, her name immediately rang through my mind. I knew I would eventually share one of her beloved poems, yet I wanted to find the right one for me.

In her poem“God gave a loaf to every bird,” Dickinson discusses the importance of cherishing one’s blessings, one’s individual journey, and what makes them special. With the holiday season commencing, I thought this would be the perfect time to share and reflect on it.

God gave a loaf to every bird,

But just a crumb to me;

I dare not eat it, though I starve, —

My poignant luxury

To own it, touch it, prove the feat

That made the pellet mine, —

Too happy in my sparrow chance

For ampler coveting.

It might be famine all around,

I could not miss an ear,

Such plenty smiles upon the board,

My garner shows so fair.

I wonder how the rich may feel, —

An Indiaman – an Earl?

I deem that I with but a crumb

Am sovereign of them all.

At the beginning of the poem, God gifts the speaker a singular crumb. The speaker then watches the rest of the world receive much more. Even though they are on the verge of starvation, the speaker refuses to eat it.

So, what does the loaf and the crumb represent?

At the base, the crumbs could symbolize one’s everyday needs for survival like food, water, shelter, and so on. As I continue to reread the poem, I realized there is more to unpack here. There is usually more embedded in Dickinson’s poetry.

With the crumb being a blessing and a gift from God, the speaker could be referring to spiritual gifts. The speaker does not dwell on why they are left out of a bigger portion or what hardships it will bring. Instead, they are grateful for getting a piece at all.

Instead of questioning God, the speaker’s humbling mentality recognizes and acknowledges its importance and value. The speaker discusses how those around them may be richer and better off monetarily but acknowledges the riches of her own within her crumb.

Whether you are religious or not, the poem teaches us to appreciate what you have in your life regardless of where you believe it comes from. Although my spiritual journey has not always been linear, the speaker’s faith in God and her future does not waver, which I find truly admirable.

Love Poems by Emily Dickinson

The Evergreen Echo

In my life, I have fallen victim to comparing myself to others. When I watch people surpass certain milestones in their lives, it is easy to crave the same. There are some milestones that marginalized people don’t ever imagine reaching.

I am reminded not only to be grateful for what and whom I have, but also that life is full of different obstacles regardless of which direction you choose to charter. There are some extra roadblocks for some that more privileged people take for granted.

So, what else could the crumb represent?

For me, the crumb represents individuality. While the birds get entire loaves, the speaker gets a crumb. The crumb is not ingested or sold, because it innately becomes part of the speaker’s identity.  

Looking back at my college career, during my creative writing workshops, I found it easy to compare myself to fellow writers. Watching other people be sure of themselves as creatives seemed to hinder my poetic voice. It’s easy to focus on what you lack when you see it flourish in someone else so casually, instead of recognizing what makes you special.

Poetry’s limitations lie within the poet. If a writer thinks they have nothing to give creatively, they won’t. If they revel in their talents and abilities, they will utilize them within their work. One’s poetic voice is inherently and wholeheartedly theirs. The life of any creative is never easy regardless of the medium but holds a bounty of blessings that outweigh the struggle.

What do you have that nobody else does? What is your crumb?