There is another sky,
Ever serene and fair,
And there is another sunshine,
Though it be darkness there;
Never mind faded forests, Austin,
Never mind silent fields -
Here is a little forest,
Whose leaf is ever green;
Here is a brighter garden,
Where not a frost has been;
In its unfading flowers
I hear the bright bee hum:
Prithee, my brother,
Into my garden come!
Ever serene and fair,
And there is another sunshine,
Though it be darkness there;
Never mind faded forests, Austin,
Never mind silent fields -
Here is a little forest,
Whose leaf is ever green;
Here is a brighter garden,
Where not a frost has been;
In its unfading flowers
I hear the bright bee hum:
Prithee, my brother,
Into my garden come!
Emily is trying to convince her brother to return
from Boston to Amherst (1).
The poem discusses how things are
already better and greener in our home towns. No matter where we travel and why
we travel, home will always be home. Our
lives are rich and deep in our place of origin and time only makes such
memories more mystical.
Some have argued that the poem is about a feeling (2).
It is a poem of optimism that helps one
see the possibilities beyond what is currently available. There are better
places, greener pastures, and worlds still unexplored. It is optimism that
keeps most of us moving forward within our lives. The garden is a metaphor for that greater
place.
Others have argued that the poem means that her
brother is invited to read her poetry writings (3).
Poems can be a brighter place than what we find in real life. In a poem, much
like heaven, we are able to keep things really crisp and forever young.
