Poem: Mother Nature by Emily Dickinson, Paraphrase, Summary, Themes, Central Idea and Literary Devices

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Poem: Mother Nature by Emily Dickinson 


Nature, the gentlest mother,

Impatient of no child,

The feeblest or the waywardest,

Her admonition mild


In forest and the hill

By traveler is heard,

Restraining rampant squirrel

 Or too impetuous bird.


How fair her conversation,

A summer afternoon,

Her household, her assembly;

And when the sun goes down


Her voice among the aisles

Incites the timid prayer

Of the minutest cricket,

The most unworthy flower.


When all the children sleep

She turns as long away

As will suffice to light her lamps;

Then, bending from the sky


With infinite affection

And infinite care,

Her golden finger on her lip,

Wills silence everywhere.


Mother Nature by Emily Dickinson 

Paraphrase and Literary Devices of the poem:    

Stanza: 1

Nature, the gentlest mother,  A

Impatient of no child,   B  

The feeblest or the waywardest,   C

Her admonition mild    B

  

Rhyme Scheme: ABCB

1. Paraphrase:
 Nature is the kindest and most gentle mother who never loses patience with any child, whether

weak or unruly. Her warnings are always gentle.


 Literary Devices of this stanza

  • Personification (Nature as a mother)

  • Alliteration ("waywardest")

  • Contrast (feeblest vs. waywardest)

Stanza: 2

In forest and the hill   A

By traveler is heard,    B

Restraining rampant squirrel   C

 Or too impetuous bird.   B

ABCB

Paraphrase:
 In forests and hills, travelers can hear Nature’s calming voice that controls wild squirrels and

impulsive birds.


 Literary Devices:

  • Personification (Nature "restraining" animals)

  • Imagery (forest, hill, squirrel, bird)

Stanza: 3

How fair her conversation,   A

A summer afternoon,    B

Her household, her assembly;    C

And when the sun goes down  B


ABCB

3. Paraphrase:
Nature’s way of communication is beautiful and calm, like a summer afternoon. She gathers all

her creatures like a household or assembly. When the sun sets, her presence continues.

 Literary Devices:

  • Imagery (summer afternoon)

  • Personification (Nature having conversation, household, assembly)

  • Symbolism (sun going down indicating transition)

Stanza: 4

Her voice among the aisles  A

Incites the timid prayer    B

Of the minutest cricket,    C

The most unworthy flower.   B


ABCB

4. Paraphrase:
 Her voice is heard in the natural corridors, inspiring even the smallest cricket and simplest

flower to express their humble prayer.

 Literary Devices:

  • Personification (voice incites prayer)

  • Hyperbole ("most unworthy flower")

  • Imagery ("aisles," "timid prayer")



Stanza: 5

When all the children sleep    A

She turns as long away     B

As will suffice to light her lamps;   C

Then, bending from the sky     B


ABCB

5. Paraphrase:
When all creatures sleep, Nature turns away for just enough time to light her lamps (stars),

then softly leans from the sky.

 Literary Devices:

  • Personification (turns away, bending from the sky)

  • Metaphor (“lighting her lamps” for stars or moon)

  • Enjambment (flow into the next stanza)

  • Simile (“She turns as long away As will suffice to light her lamps;”)

Stanza: 6

With infinite affection   A

And infinite care,      B

Her golden finger on her lip,    C

Wills silence everywhere.   B


ABCB

6. Paraphrase:
With endless love and care, she places her golden finger to her lips, quietly commanding silence

everywhere.

 Literary Devices:

  • Personification (“golden finger on her lip”)

  • Metaphor (finger on lips = silence)

  • Repetition/Parallelism (“infinite affection / infinite care”)

Difficult words and their meanings

Gentlest: the most kind and calm.

Impatient of no child: not annoyed with any child.

Feeblest: the weakest.

Waywardest: the most disobedient or difficult to control.

Admonition: a mild warning or gentle correction.

Mild: soft, gentle, not harsh.

Forest: a large area covered with trees.

Hill: a raised area of land, smaller than a mountain.

Traveller: a person who is moving through a place.

Restraining: holding back; keeping under control.

Rampant: running or growing without control; wildly active.

Squirrel: a small animal with a bushy tail that lives in trees.

Impetuous: acting quickly without thinking; too hasty or wild.

Fair: lovely, beautiful.

Conversation: here it means the peaceful sounds of nature, like birds, wind,

and rustling leaves.

Household: all living creatures that belong to Nature.

Assembly: a gathering or meeting of many beings.

Afternoon: the time after midday and before evening.

Sun goes down: sunset; the time when the sun disappears below the horizon.

Aisles: here it means paths or passages in the woods, like the aisles of a

church.

Incites: encourages or stirs up.

Timid: shy, easily frightened.

Prayer: a heartfelt request or song to God; here it suggests a soft,

reverent sound.

Minutest: the tiniest or very small.

Cricket: a small insect that makes a chirping sound.

Unworthy: not important or not deserving attention (used

humbly for the flower).

Suffice: be enough or sufficient.

Light her lamps: a poetic way of describing stars appearing in

 the night sky.

Bending: leaning or curving downward.

Children: here it means all living things in nature

Infinite: without limit; endless.

Affection: deep love or fondness.

Infinite: an old poetic form meaning “even more infinite” or greater.

Golden finger: a poetic image, perhaps the soft light of the moon or

stars, like a golden finger.

Wills: desires or commands.

Silence: complete quiet.

 Summary:

Emily Dickinson’s poem "Mother Nature" presents nature as a gentle, patient mother who

tenderly cares for all living things. It describes how nature watches over animals and

plants, guiding them with mild warnings and nurturing them with affection. Even when

darkness falls and all creatures rest, nature quietly maintains harmony, lighting the

world’s lamps and bidding silence with infinite care. The poem celebrates the nurturing

and timeless spirit of nature as a loving guardian of life.

Central Idea:


The central idea of Emily Dickinson’s poem "Mother Nature" is that nature acts as a

gentle, caring mother who lovingly watches over all creatures, big and small, with

patience and kindness. Despite challenges, she nurtures life with affection and calm

authority.


Theme:

  • Motherhood and Nurture: Nature’s maternal qualities emphasize care,

  • protection, and patience toward all living things.

  • Harmony in Nature: The poem highlights the peaceful coexistence and

  • order within the natural world, where every creature has a role.

  • Silence and Reverence: The final stanza’s theme of silence conveys

  • respect for nature’s quiet power and gentle authority.


Poem Mother Nature.  Answers questions:

i. Central theme or message

Emily Dickinson presents Nature as a loving, patient mother who cares for every

creature and gently maintains balance and peace in the world.

ii. Nature’s actions when “all the children sleep”

When all living things are asleep, Nature moves quietly to “light her lamps,” meaning

she brings out the stars, and then bends down from the sky to watch over the night.

iii. Meaning of “Her golden finger on her lip / Wills silence everywhere”

This metaphor shows Nature commanding universal quiet. Her “golden finger”

symbolizes moonlight or starlight, and the gesture of a finger on the lips signals a

gentle request for silence.

iv. Use of natural elements (squirrel, bird, cricket, flower)

These creatures illustrate the variety of life that Nature lovingly governs from lively

animals to tiny insects and delicate flowers—showing her care for both energetic

and humble beings.

v. Duality of Nature’s character

The poet presents Nature as a gentle mother who is nurturing and patient with every creature.

At the same time, she is also a quiet enforcer of silence. She softly yet firmly brings stillness

at night. In this way, Nature maintains balance and preserves harmony.




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