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There is a pain – so utter – It swallows substance up –…

“There is a pain – so utter – It swallows substance up – Then covers the Abyss with Trance – So Memory can step Around – across – opon it – As one within a Swoon – Goes safely – where an open eye – Would drop Him – Bone by Bone.” quote by Emily Dickinson
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““There is a pain – so utter – It swallows substance up – Then covers the Abyss with Trance – So Memory can step Around – across – opon it – As one within a Swoon – Goes safely – where an open eye – Would drop Him – Bone by Bone.””

Emily Dickinson

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The poem portrays pain as an overwhelming force that masks reality, yet memory can navigate through it like a trance.

In simple terms: Pain hides truth, but memory can move around it.

Key Takeaway

Allow memory to guide you through suffering.

Themes

pain memory perception transcendence

Mood

somber introspective

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • grief
  • trauma healing
  • mindfulness
  • creative expression

Key Concepts

psychology poetry existentialism

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can memory truly bypass pain?
  • What does “the Abyss” symbolize?
A Different Perspective

Memory may be unreliable, leading to distortion.

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