A Route of Evanescence Theme of Man and the Natural World

Nature is a major Dickinson theme, and in "Route of Evanescence" she wants to get at how nature can completely mesmerize someone, even if only for a few seconds. In this poem the speaker doesn't do anything to the natural world. She doesn't pick a flower or even smell one. Nope, all she does is watch. Her attempt to record what she has just seen mirrors the bird's actions. She gives us a few streaks of color, shows the flowers bouncing back to their original state, and just like that, the poem is over (much like a hummingbird might seem to disappear when it jets off before your very eyes). In that sense it's also about our attempts to describe the natural world, even when it remains totally elusive.

1. What is the effect of the speaker's personification of nature?
2. Where is the speaker in relation to the events of the poem?
3. Do you think this poem is more about how nature works, or more about how human imagination works? Why do you think so? 
4. Is there a spiritual side to the speaker's encounter with nature? If not, why not? If so, what?

By describing the bird using a man-made device like the wheel, the poem suggests that the hummingbird should be given just as much r-e-s-p-e-c-t.

Deep breath, folks. This poem shows us through nature a valuable lesson about slowing down and finding beauty in simple things.