In Honor and Memory of Fr. Pierre Demers (談德義神父 1921 - 2002)《狄更森的詩》Study Guide to Emily Elizabeth Dickinson. The Moon was but a Chin of Gold" (Poem 737): The moon as a force of nature and faith:

2025年中秋清晨3~4點  明月

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson moon

Emily Dickinson 

wrote several notable poems about the moon, using it as a potent symbol for her explorations of nature, solitude, and relationships. Her poetry frequently personifies celestial bodies and draws on her knowledge of astronomy, which she gained through her schooling at Amherst College. 

Key poems and themes related to the moon include:

• "The Moon is distant from the Sea—" (Poem 387): In this poem, Dickinson portrays a dynamic relationship between the moon and the sea. The moon, with "Amber Hands," is depicted as a feminine and controlling figure, leading the masculine sea "docile as a Boy". Critics interpret this as a meditation on love and power, where the sea's movements are in constant, obedient rhythm to the distant moon's commands. The final stanza, in which the speaker compares her own distant relationship to that of the moon and sea, adds a layer of personal longing.
• "The Moon was but a Chin of Gold" (Poem 737): This imaginative poem personifies the phases of the moon as a woman's changing appearance. Beginning with the slender "Chin of Gold" of the crescent moon, she then turns her "perfect Face" to the world. The imagery progresses to describe her "Forehead is of Amplest Blonde," a beryl cheek, and eyes like "Summer Dew". This poem is often seen as a testament to Dickinson's keen observation of nature and her creative and whimsical style.
• "You know that Portrait in the Moon" (Poem 504): Dickinson explores the idea of seeing familiar faces in the lunar markings. She states that during a full moon, " 'Tis Thou—I say—My lips just hold the name," suggesting a deep and intimate connection with a loved one. In the crescent phase, the image is "worn," but still "the Golden Same". The poem connects the astronomical to the personal, suggesting that the memory of a cherished face can be found in the enduring, cyclical presence of the moon.
• The moon as a force of nature and faith: Dickinson's interest in astronomy was both a field of learning and a way to explore her own spiritual and emotional world. The moon provided her with a powerful symbol to examine themes of solitude, longing, and the navigation of life's challenges. For Dickinson, the moon and stars offered points of orientation and reference in a chaotic world. 

In summary, Dickinson's poems about the moon showcase her unique poetic style and her fascination with the natural world. She uses the moon to explore complex themes of love, femininity, solitude, and spirituality, often through vivid personification and striking imagery. 

The Moon was but a Chin of Gold

737

The Moon was but a Chin of Gold
A Night or two ago—
And now she turns Her perfect Face
Upon the World below—

Her Forehead is of Amplest Blonde—
Her Cheek—a Beryl hewn—
Her Eye unto the Summer Dew
The likest I have known—

Her Lips of Amber never part—
But what must be the smile
Upon Her Friend she could confer
Were such Her Silver Will—

And what a privilege to be
But the remotest Star—
For Certainty She take Her Way
Beside Your Palace Door—

Her Bonnet is the Firmament—
The Universe—Her Shoe—
The Stars—the Trinkets at Her Belt—
Her Dimities—of Blue—

wwwww

 In Honor and Memory of Fr. Pierre Demers  (談德義神父 1921 - 2002)

Study Guide to Emily Elizabeth Dickinson
《狄更森的詩》

Table of Contents

Editorial Board 編輯群

序言（Introduction） 第一組詩：自然（Poems of Nature）Group I                   J. 328  A bird came down the walk  Poem 328   J. 333  The grass so little has to do  Poem 333   J. 526  To hear an oriole sing  Poem 526   J. 986  A narrow fellow in the grass  Poem 986   J.  1510  How happy is the little stone  Poem 1510   J.  1540  As imperceptibly as grief  Poem 1540 第二組詩：狂喜與絕望（Poems of Ecstasy and Despair）Group II              J.  76    Exultation is the going  Poem 76   J.  241  I like a look of agony  Poem 241   J.  303  The soul selects her own society  Poem 303   J.  341  After great pain, a formal feeling comes  Poem 341   J.  258  There's a certain slant of light  Poem258 第三組詩： 死亡與永生（Poems of Death and Immortality）Group III            J.  162  My river runs to thee  Poem 162   J.  449  I died for beauty, but was scarce  Poem 449   J.  465  I heard a fly buzz when I died  Poem 465   J.  712  Because I could not stop for death  Poem 712   J. 1078  The bustle in a house  Poem 1078 第四組詩：藝術與文字（Poems of Art and Word）Group IV              J.  214  I taste a liquor never brewed  Poem 214   J.  288  I'm Nobody!  Who are you?  Poem 288   J.  441  This is my letter to the world  Poem 441   J.  585  I like to see it lap the miles  Poem 585 結論（Conclusion ）   風格與技巧  （Style and Technique）   語言  （Language）   意象  （Imagery）   特殊表現法  （Idiosyncrasies）   語調  （Tone）   結構  （Structure）