Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church
Some keep the Sabbath going to Church –
I keep it, staying at Home –
With a Bobolink for a Chorister –
And an Orchard, for a Dome –Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice –
I, just wear my Wings –
And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,
Our little Sexton – sings.God preaches, a noted Clergyman –
And the sermon is never long,
So instead of getting to heaven, at last –
I’m going, all along.
Exploring “Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church”
Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church,” offers a truly captivating look at faith, spirituality, and the individual’s connection to the divine. This widely cherished poem, known for its accessibility and profound message, invites readers to consider that spiritual devotion can bloom in many forms, not just within the walls of a traditional church. It is a gentle yet powerful declaration of personal belief, suggesting that the sacred can be found in the everyday beauty of nature and the quiet moments of one’s own heart.
The Heart of the Poem: A Summary
“Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church” beautifully contrasts conventional religious observance with a deeply personal, nature-centered spirituality. The speaker presents a unique way of observing the Sabbath, choosing to find holiness not in a church building, but in the peaceful solitude of home and the natural world. Instead of attending a service with a human clergyman, the speaker experiences God’s presence through the songs of a bobolink and the shelter of an orchard. This poem is not a rejection of faith itself, but rather a redefinition of where and how that faith is practiced. It suggests that genuine spirituality is not confined to prescribed rituals or specific locations, but is an ongoing, personal journey that can be experienced “all along.”
Central Ideas and Noteworthy Insights
- Individuality in Faith: The poem champions the idea that each person can forge a unique path to spiritual connection. It highlights a gentle “conflict” between societal norms of worship and a deeply personal, internal experience of the divine. This is not a battle of right versus wrong, but an exploration of different, equally valid, spiritual destinations.
- Nature as a Sanctuary: A core message is that God is omnipresent and accessible everywhere, especially in the natural world. The speaker transforms her home and orchard into a sacred space, demonstrating that the divine can be encountered in the simplest, most organic settings.
- Continuous Spiritual Journey: The line “I’m going, all along” emphasizes that spirituality is a continuous process, a state of being rather than a future destination. It suggests an immediate and constant connection with the divine, rather than one deferred until “heaven, at last.” This poem is about being spiritual, rather than becoming spiritual.
Unpacking the Poem: Literary Devices at Work
Emily Dickinson masterfully employs a range of literary devices to enrich the meaning and impact of “Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church.” These techniques allow her to convey complex ideas with remarkable clarity and artistry, making the poem both beautiful and thought provoking.
Imagery: Painting Pictures with Words
Imagery involves using descriptive language to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind, appealing to the senses. Dickinson excels at this, inviting us into the speaker’s natural sanctuary:
With a Bobolink for a Chorister –
And an Orchard, for a Dome –
These lines paint a vibrant picture of the speaker’s unique place of worship. We can almost hear the bird’s song and feel the peaceful enclosure of the orchard, creating a strong emotional connection to her experience of the Sabbath.
Metaphor: Seeing One Thing as Another
A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things without using “like” or “as,” suggesting one thing is another. The poem is rich with metaphors that equate natural elements with religious concepts:
With a Bobolink for a Chorister –
And an Orchard, for a Dome –
Here, the “Bobolink” is a “Chorister” (a choir singer), and the “Orchard” is a “Dome” (like the ceiling of a grand church). These powerful metaphors suggest a more organic, accessible, and personal form of worship, where nature itself provides the elements of a sacred service.
Symbolism: Deeper Meanings
Symbolism uses an object or idea to represent something else, often a deeper, more abstract concept. In the second stanza, the speaker mentions a significant symbol:
Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice –
I, just wear my Wings –
The “Surplice” is a white garment worn by clergy, symbolizing traditional religious authority. In contrast, “Wings” symbolize freedom, transcendence, and the speaker’s ability to connect with the divine on her own terms. They suggest a spiritual elevation that is not dependent on earthly institutions or formal attire.
Irony: A Gentle Twist of Meaning
Irony occurs when there is a contrast between what is said and what is actually meant, or between expectation and reality. Dickinson uses a subtle, gentle irony:
God preaches, a noted Clergyman –
And the sermon is never long,
It is ironic because the speaker finds God’s presence and message more readily in nature, where the “sermon is never long” and always profound, than in a traditional church setting with a human “Clergyman.” This gently challenges the notion that a human intermediary is necessary to connect with the divine, implying that God’s true sermons are found in the world itself.
Alliteration: The Sound of Repetition
Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity. This device adds emphasis and creates a pleasing sound effect:
Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice –
The repeated ‘S’ sound draws attention to the contrast between “Some” and the speaker, highlighting the different ways of observing the Sabbath.
Assonance: Echoing Vowel Sounds
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within words in close proximity. This creates a musical quality and emphasizes certain words:
I keep it, staying at Home –
Notice the subtle repetition of vowel sounds like the long ‘e’ in “keep,” the short ‘i’ in “it,” and the long ‘a’ in “staying.” This subtle repetition draws attention to the speaker’s deliberate choice and the comfort she finds in her personal worship.
Consonance: Repeating Consonant Sounds
Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words in close proximity. This adds texture to the poem and creates a sense of rhythm:
And the sermon is never long,
The repeated ‘n’ sound here helps to create a smooth, flowing rhythm, reinforcing the idea of a gentle, continuous experience.
Poetic Devices: Shaping the Structure and Rhythm
Beyond literary devices, Emily Dickinson utilizes specific poetic techniques to craft the structure and rhythm of this impactful poem, making it both memorable and meaningful.
Stanza and Quatrain: Building Blocks of the Poem
The poem is composed of three distinct sections, known as stanzas. Each stanza is a quatrain, meaning it consists of four lines. This consistent structure provides a logical flow, allowing for a gradual unveiling of the speaker’s unique perspective and argument. Each quatrain acts like a small, self-contained thought, building upon the previous one to develop the poem’s central theme.
Rhyme Scheme: A Touch of Musicality
Emily Dickinson is known for her distinctive approach to rhyme. While the poem does not follow a strict, perfectly consistent rhyme scheme, it often employs a pattern of ABCB, where the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyme, or use slant rhyme (words that sound similar but do not rhyme perfectly). For example, in the first stanza, “Home” and “Dome” create a clear rhyme. This subtle and sometimes irregular rhyming adds a musical quality without feeling overly formal, mirroring the speaker’s departure from conventional norms.
Repetition: Emphasizing the Contrast
The recurring phrase “Some keep the Sabbath” acts as a powerful repetition throughout the poem. It appears at the beginning of the first two stanzas and is implied in the third:
Some keep the Sabbath going to Church –
I keep it, staying at Home –Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice –
I, just wear my Wings –
This repetition emphasizes the contrast between conventional practice and the speaker’s alternative. It anchors the poem, drawing attention to the central idea of individual choice in spiritual observance.
A Closer Look at Key Lines
The following lines from the poem offer powerful insights into the themes of individuality, spirituality, and the search for meaning. They beautifully encapsulate the speaker’s unique perspective:
“Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice –
I, just wear my Wings –
And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,
Our little Sexton – sings.”
These verses are central to the poem’s message. They highlight the speaker’s rejection of formal religious attire (the “Surplice”) in favor of her own spiritual freedom, symbolized by “Wings.” Instead of the solemn tolling of a church bell, she finds her call to worship in the joyful song of “Our little Sexton” – likely another bird, echoing the bobolink. This passage powerfully illustrates that genuine faith is not confined to a specific location or ritual, but can be found in the beauty of nature and the quiet contemplation of one’s own soul. It invites readers to question conventional norms and to embrace their own unique spiritual paths.
The Enduring Message of “Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church”
“Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church” is a deceptively simple poem that offers profound insights into the nature of faith and the importance of individual expression. Emily Dickinson’s masterful use of literary and poetic devices creates a work that is both beautiful and thought provoking, inviting readers to explore their own beliefs and to discover their own paths to the divine. It reminds us that spirituality is a deeply personal journey, one that can be enriched by the world around us and the quiet wisdom within. This poem continues to resonate, encouraging all to find their own sacred spaces and their own unique ways of connecting with the profound mysteries of existence.