Poems of Emily Dickinson _ I dwell in Possibility—

In Emily Dickinson's poem , I dwell in possibility , the framework of an elaborate architectural conceit , the speaker explains she dwells in a house she calls possibility , by which she means poetry .

Poetry , she asserts , is more beautiful and fairer than prose , and its greater number of metaphorical windows and doors offer more ways of viewing and connecting with the natural world .

The poetic house is built of strong , beautiful materials and has limitless potential .

In her house of poetry , she receives the fairest visitors , and all she has to do is spread her hands to gather paradise .

This three stanza poem follows standard ballad meter for the most part , although some lines that would normally contain 8 syllables or 4 iambic feet , the third line in the first stanza , and the first line in the second and third stanza have only 7 syllables and end in an unstressed syllable .

This is the entire poem .

I dwell in possibility , a fairer house than prose , more numerous of windows , superior for doors , of chambers as the cedars , impregnable of eye , and for an everlasting roof , the gambrels of the sky , Of visitors , the fairest for occupation , this , the spreading wide , my narrow hands together , paradise .

In the first line of I dwell in possibility , by comparing possibility to prose , the speaker is implying possibility or poetry is the opposite of prose , which for the speaker has more limitations .

In these ways , the speaker says , poetry is superior to prose .

Poetry attracts visitors more beautiful than those of prose or readers more attuned to the limitless poetic imagination than to the stricter boundaries of prose .

In poetry , the speaker creates such bounty of beauty and ideas .

All she has to do is spread her hands to create something beautiful .

By implication , a house of prose must be dark with fewer perspectives or entry points built of lesser materials and attracting dull visitors .