If You Were Coming In The Fall Summary
Remembering Fall: A Trip Down Memory Lane Ever felt like you've got a personal weather forecast app in your head? You know, the one that's always whispering, "It's gonna rain...
Remembering Fall: A Trip Down Memory Lane
Ever felt like you've got a personal weather forecast app in your head? You know, the one that's always whispering, "It's gonna rain tomorrow, mark my words!" Well, that's what Emily Dickinson had going on in her poem, "If You Were Coming in the Fall." This isn't your typical stuffy, academic poem. No, no, it's more like a friendly chat with a neighbor over the fence, so let's dive in, shall we?
First Lines, First Impressions
Now, imagine you're walking down the street on a crisp autumn morning. The leaves are crunching underfoot, and there's that distinct chill in the air that makes you reach for your favorite scarf. That's the vibe Dickinson sets with her first lines:
If you were coming in the fall,
I'd brush the summer by with a broom,
And the summer grow away; and never
Return again—if you were coming in.
She's basically saying, "Hey, if you're showing up this fall, I'll sweep summer right out of the way. It's over, done, finished. No more summer for me if you're coming!" It's like when you're waiting for your best friend to visit, and you're so excited that you're ready to pack away the last of the ice cream and bring out the hot chocolate.
Patience, Grasshopper
But here's the thing, Dickinson's not exactly known for her patience. She's more of a "I want it now!" kind of gal. So, when she says:
I'd put a chair out every night,
Until the tired stars were seated,
And I could tell what place was yours
In the sky.
It's like she's saying, "I'll sit out there every night until the stars get so tired, they just have to tell me where you are in the sky. I mean, come on, stars, spill the beans!" It's hilarious because it's so relatable. We've all been there, waiting for someone, checking the sky for signs, right?
When Plans Change
But then, oh snap, plans change. Dickinson gets a reality check:
And so I'd put away my chair,
And put out all the lights, and go to bed,
And turn my face into the pillow,
And say, 'Good-night, good-night, good-night,'
Into the shut closet, and the moon,
And the still stars.
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It's like she's saying, "Well, guess what? You're not coming. So, I'm putting away the chair, turning off the lights, and going to bed. Goodnight, moon. Goodnight, stars. You can all just keep spinning without me." It's a bittersweet moment, isn't it? Like when you're waiting for a package, and the delivery date comes and goes, and you're left with nothing but an empty doorstep.
But Wait, There's More
But here's the kicker, folks. Dickinson doesn't stay sad for long. She's back with a vengeance in the final stanza:
And would you like to know,
What it is you do when you come?
I will tell you the secret at the close,
To ease my heart and yours.
She's basically saying, "You wanna know what we do when you finally show up? I'll tell you, but only if it makes both our hearts feel better." It's like she's got a secret plan, a surprise party waiting to happen. It's a beautiful reminder that even when things don't go as planned, there's always hope for a happy ending.
So, What's the Moral of the Story?
This poem is like a little journey through the seasons of our lives. It's about waiting, hoping, and sometimes, being disappointed. But it's also about resilience, about picking ourselves up and carrying on. It's about the power of a good night's sleep and the promise of a new day. It's about the simple joy of waiting for someone you love, even if they never show up. Because sometimes, the waiting is just as important as the getting there.
So, the next time you're waiting for something, or someone, take a leaf out of Dickinson's book. Put out a chair, look at the stars, and say, "Goodnight, goodnight, goodnight." Because tomorrow's a new day, and who knows what it might bring?
