"The Clover's simple Fame" By Emily Dickinson [Analysis]

The Clover's simple Fame [1] Remembered of the Cow -- [2] Is better than enameled Realms [3] Of notability. [4] Renown perceives itself [5] And that degrades the Flower -- [6] The Daisy that has looked behind [7] Has compromised its power -- [8]
Poem 1232 [F1256] "The Clover's simple Fame" Analysis by David Preest [Poem]

Those who know that they are famous are inferior to the Clover who is gratefully remembered by the Cow, but does not know this. A Daisy that looks behind to see if anyone is admiring it has 'compromised its power' or 'forfeited its dower.' There are two drafts of this poem. Johnson follows the one, Franklin the other. Besides the variant reading of the last line quoted above, line 3 has 'better' or 'sweeter,' line 4 has 'notability' or 'notoriety,' and line 6 has 'degrades the Flower' or 'defiles the power.'
Top