“We grow accustomed to the Dark.” This first line gave me a
heavy sense of reluctant acceptance. It brought to mind images of a person suffering
silently, resigned to their fate, no longer caring what hardships life threw at
them. By the end, though, the poem had a whole new tone. It seemed to ring of feathered
hope, sometimes flitting out of reach, but never truly leaving.
In Dickinson's poem, only “the Bravest” begin to grope
around in the dark. It takes courage to face one’s obstacles when we’re not
sure where they are, but the ones who sit still and do nothing will remain
trapped in the darkness indefinitely.
To me, then, this poem seemed to serve as a reminder that
there will always be “Dark” times, but no matter how much or how little time we
spend in the dark, there will always be a shift, a click in our minds, where “the
Darkness alters” and we are once again able to see the path ahead. Even if we
stumble and walk into some trees, there will always come a time when “Life steps
almost straight.”
Black and White are characters from the manga Grey Is... by DeeJuusan, an emotional and really heart-wrenching story about two friends who are trapped in their own darkness, found here.
I really agree with your analysis, Amily. I hadn't noticed how the beginning of the poem could describe someone who's gotten used to the dark and has basically given up on life. I love the language you use, too, especially when you talk about "feathered hope." Reminds me of another Emily Dickinson poem!
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