Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Tribute," Annie Finch pays homage to Emily Dickinson through a poem that reflects the influence of Dickinson's unique style and existential themes. Finch incorporates Dickinson's characteristic dashes, imagery, and rhythmic patterns while infusing the poem with her own voice, creating a haunting meditation on legacy, identity, and the permeation of artistic influence.

The poem opens with an epigraph drawn from Dickinson herself: "'You'll find--it when you try to die--'". This quote sets the tone, immediately situating the reader in Dickinson’s world of existential contemplation. The use of dashes mirrors Dickinson's signature style, suggesting pauses and uncertainties that resonate with the poem’s themes of mortality and introspection.

In the first stanza, Finch writes:  

"Of all the words that I can't live,  

I have elected hers."

The speaker acknowledges her inability to embody all the words she wishes to live by, instead choosing Dickinson's words to "haunt" her. This idea of "electing" words introduces an intentional connection with Dickinson’s poetry, while the notion of haunting suggests the profound impact of Dickinson's work on the speaker's psyche. The words become a ghostly presence that continues to influence and shape her.

The second stanza introduces the metaphor of "margins" giving way:  

"to haunt me till my margins give  

around me, web and bone."

Here, Finch employs the imagery of "margins" to represent personal boundaries or the edges of identity. Dickinson's words are so powerful that they push against these margins, creating a tension between the speaker's own sense of self and the influence of Dickinson. The "web and bone" imagery adds a tactile dimension to this struggle, emphasizing the interconnectedness and fragility of identity.

In the third stanza, the speaker acknowledges the overwhelming influence of Dickinson:  

"Her voice has vanished through my own.  

She makes me like a stone."

The metaphor of "vanished through my own" implies that Dickinson's voice has become so intertwined with the speaker's that it has permeated and, in some ways, subsumed it. Being "like a stone" suggests a sense of immobility or permanence, as if Dickinson's influence has solidified within the speaker. This metaphor also introduces the theme of finality, tying back to Dickinson's preoccupation with mortality.

The final stanza closes with a powerful image:  

"the falling leaves will sink and stay  

not over, but upon."

Here, the "falling leaves" represent the passage of time and the inevitability of decay. They "sink and stay" upon the stone, symbolizing the accumulation of influence over time. The leaves do not pass over but rather remain "upon," suggesting the enduring presence of Dickinson’s words in the speaker’s life. This final image encapsulates the idea of legacy, with Dickinson’s voice acting as a foundation upon which subsequent generations build.

Structurally, Finch uses short quatrains that echo Dickinson's concise and rhythmic style. The rhyme scheme (ABCB) further reinforces this connection, while the controlled rhythm reflects the tension between the influence of the past and the formation of one's own voice.

"Tribute" is an elegant homage that captures the profound and sometimes overwhelming impact of Dickinson's poetry. Through rich imagery and rhythmic precision, Finch explores the complexities of artistic legacy and the ways in which great writers can shape and influence our own voices. By acknowledging Dickinson's pervasive presence, Finch invites readers to reflect on the power of words to transcend time and continue to shape lives long after they are written.

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