QuoteProject
A soft Sea washed around the House A Sea of Summer Air And rose and fell the magic Planks That sailed without a care — For Captain was the Butterfly For Helmsman was the Bee And an entire universe For the delighted crew.
Emily Dickinson
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects a whimsical and carefree perspective on nature, where small creatures play significant roles in a magical, summer setting.

Emily Dickinson’s quote paints a vivid picture of a world where nature is alive with magical possibilities. It illustrates a fantastical scene where a butterfly and a bee assume the roles of captain and helmsman, guiding the 'ship' of summer air through a vast universe. This portrayal highlights the innocence and beauty found in nature, capturing a childlike wonder at the simplicity and joy of the summer experience.

Themes

NatureSummerButterflyBeeWhimsy

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in a speech about the beauty of nature at a summer gathering.

More from Emily Dickinson

Heart, we will forget him, You and I, tonight! You must forget the warmth he gave, I will forget the light.
Emily DickinsonRead
I held a jewel in my fingers And went to sleep. The day was warm, and winds were prosy; I said: "'T will keep." I woke and chid my honest fingers,— The gem was gone; And now an amethyst remembrance Is all I own.
Emily DickinsonRead
I'll tell you how the sun rose, a ribbon at a time. The steeples swam in amethyst, The news like squirrels ran. The hills untied their bonnets, The bobolinks begun. Then I said softly to myself, "That must have been the sun!
Emily DickinsonRead
My best Acquaintances are those With Whom I spoke no Word
Emily DickinsonRead
This is the Hour of Lead- Remembered, if outlived, As freezing persons, recollect the Snow- First-Chill-then Stupor- then the letting go---
Emily DickinsonRead
Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned.
Emily DickinsonRead

Similar quotes

An owl sound wandered along the road with me. I didn't hear it--I breathed it into my ears.
William StaffordRead
Snow always inspires such awe in me. Just consider one tiny snowflake alone, so delicate, so fragile, so ethereal. And yet, let a billion of them come together through the majestic force of nature, they can screw up a whole city.
Betty WhiteRead
I thought as I rode in the cold pleasant light of Sunday morning how silent & passive nature offers, every morn, her wealth to man; she is immensely rich, he is welcome to her entire goods, which he speaks no word, only leaves over doors ajar, hall, store room, & cellar. He may do as he will: if he takes her hint & uses her goods, she speaks no word; if he blunders & starves, she says nothing.
Ralph Waldo EmersonRead
Nothing could be more pleasant than to live in solitude, enjoy the spectacle of nature, and occasionally read some book.
Nikolai GogolRead
She was riding a bear! And the Aurora was swaying above them in golden arcs and loops, and all around was the bitter Arctic cold and the immense silence of the North.
Philip PullmanRead
The most common form of terrorism in the U.S.A. is that carried on by bulldozers and chainsaws. It is not enough to understand the natural world; the point is to defend and preserve it. Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul.
Edward AbbeyRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.

Quote by Emily Dickinson | QuoteProject