Success is counted sweetest by Emily Dickenson

Posted on April 25, 2012 by GSL

I particular like this poem because it states the truth about success in a direct yet poetic manner. In this poem, the speaker compares success to a certain sweetness such as nectar. The speaker rightfully states that “To comprehend a nectar requires the sorest need.” I believe this means that to obtain success is not easy.The second stanza likens the pursuit of success to a battle. Not all who set out for success will attain it. When it is attained, the joy of success is indescribable. Dickenson likens those who pursue success and fail as the defeated ones on the battlefield who lay dying. They can only remain in their position of failure and observe those who have succeeded enjoy the joys of their success.

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2 Responses to Success is counted sweetest by Emily Dickenson

  1. Jody R. Rosen says:
    April 25, 2012 at 4:07 pm

    GSL, you might try translating each line into its “in other words” equivalent–it’s a good technique to help you see what you understand. When I look at the lines you quoted, I don’t see Dickinson saying that to obtain success isn’t easy–it’s something different than that, a more descriptive statement.

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  2. kramlogan says:
    May 1, 2012 at 9:24 pm

    I agree with your post for success is counted sweetest. This poem reminds me of how sweet success can really be. I was always told that if you work hard and do the right thing, good things will follow. This is the same for success. If you work hard at whatever you want to accomplish you will always be successful. In line four it states that “Requires sorest need”. To me this means you have to what if feels like to be at the bottom be for you can truly enjoy being successful at the top. I did not under stand the next line that followed, “not one of all the purple host”. At the end of the poem it talks about the triumph sounds of success is very loud and clear.

    K. Ramlogan

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