I dwell in Possibility Art and Culture Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Line)

Quote #1

I dwell in Possibility –
A fairer House than Prose – (1-2)

The first two lines make it pretty tough to get around the idea that this is a poem about poetry. Interestingly, instead of actually using the word "poetry," the speaker makes the topic clear by only directly mentioning prose (poetry's opposite). Rather than calling poetry out by name, the speaker substitutes the word "poetry" with "Possibility." This is a neat trick because it deftly fills us in on why the speaker thinks poetry is better than its more straight-laced sister. To the speaker, poetry is way more beautiful than that other girl because it opens up a ton of options in the reader's mind.

Quote #2

Of Visitors – the fairest – (9)

The speaker takes her poetry obsession ever further here. Not only is poetry way cooler than prose, readers (or "Visitors") are way cooler than prose readers as well. What do you think? Has the speaker taken it one step too far? Is she underselling the power of prose a bit, or do you think she's right on the money?

Quote #3

For Occupation – This – (10)

This line clues us in on the fact that the speaker herself is a poet by occupation. Do you think we can go ahead and assume at this point that the speaker is actually Dickinson, who occupied nearly every day with writing poems?