"Heart, not so heavy as mine" By Emily Dickinson [Analysis]

Heart, not so heavy as mine[1] Wending late home --[2] As it passed my window[3] Whistled itself a tune --[4] A careless snatch -- a ballad -- A ditty of the street --[5] Yet to my irritated Ear[6] An Anodyne so sweet --[7] It was as if a Bobolink[8] Sauntering this way[9] Carolled, and paused, and carolled --[10] Then bubbled slow away![11] It was as if a chirping brook[12] Upon a dusty way --[13] Set bleeding feet to minuets[14] Without the knowing why![15] Tomorrow, night will come again --[16] Perhaps, weary and sore --[17] Ah Bugle! By my window[18] I pray you pass once more.[19]
Poem 83 [F88] "Heart not so heavy as mine" Analysis by David Preest [Poem]

On the assumption that Emily is the speaker in the poem and that the incident actually happened, the reader learns that Emily with 'heavy heart' and 'irritated ear' was for a moment cheered by someone whistling under her window. She hopes that he may pass by tomorrow night as well, and by his whistling stop her feeling 'weary and sore.' She sent copies of this poem to both Samuel Bowles and Kate Anthon. It is uncertain whether or not she was hinting that one or both of them were responsible for her sorrow. Bowles had been a regular visitor to the Evergreens since the beginning of 1858. The young widow Kate Anthon had visited Sue and Austin in both March and August 1859. They all enjoyed what Kate called 'celestial evenings' in which Emily and Bowles played shuttlecock. Emily herself called them 'evenings of bliss' and by the end of the year had sent Kate two sensuous letters (L203, 209) and one poem (poem 222).
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