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Persuasive as Perdition, [11] Espies that fickle chair [6] Risk is the Hair that holds the Tun [1] The "foolish Tun" the Critics say -- [9] By that perfidious Hair -- [8] And seats itself to be let go [7] That Tun is hollow -- but the Tun -- [3] Seductive in the Air -- [2] While that delusive Hair [10] Decoys its Traveller. [12] With Hundred Weights -- to spare -- [4] Too ponderous to suspect the snare [5]
Poem 1239 [F1253] "Risk is the Hair that holds the Tun" Analysis by David Preest [Poem]

A hollow tun or cask can be more safely held in the air by the Hair of Risk, but tuns so heavy that they have hundred weights to spare, when decoyed by the same delusive hair, take the same risk but with disastrous consequences (a variant reading for line 7 is 'then mounts, to be to atoms hurled'). Sensible 'Critics' can see that the Tun is too slow-witted to 'suspect the snare' involved, but the Tun does not listen. This poem could apply to the gambler of any era or to the financial experts who were 'to atoms hurled' in 2008.
"Risk is the Hair that holds the Tun" By Emily Dickinson [Analysis]