I like to see it lap the Miles: Key Quotes

“I like to see it lap the Miles: Poet & Context”

Emily Dickinson, an American poet, is renowned for her unique style and themes in her poems.
Dickinson never saw widespread publication during her lifetime. It was only after her death in 1886 that her nearly 1800 poems started to be published.
Her works often challenge the established norms of the time and show fascination with death and immortality.
Dickinson’s strong connection with nature often reflects in her poems. “I like to see it lap the Miles” is a perfect representation of that relationship.
The poem is believed to have been written in 1870, a time when industrial revolution was in full swing in America. Its impact can be felt in the imagery and themes of the poem.
The steam trains, being the symbol of technological progress, are depicted as a creature of nature in the poem, showing Dickinson’s ability to blend the natural with the mechanical.
Dickinson’s recluse life and limited travel, notwithstanding, she manages to create a vivid depiction of a train journey in this poem, displaying her keen observation and imaginative prowess.
Dickinson’s use of dashes and unconventional capitalization, evident in this poem, are characteristic of her writing style.
Despite her seclusion, Dickinson maintained correspondence with her friends and family. Much of our understanding of her poetry comes from these letters.
This poem explores themes of nature, motion, and progress, echoing her fascination with both the tangible and intangible aspects of life.
The non-traditional portrayal of the steam train can be discussed in contrast to the traditional notion of progress being disconnected from nature.
Dickinson’s blending of the mechanical and natural in the poem can also prompt discussions around our relationship with technology and its place in our lives.