Emily Dickinson's "We Grow Accustomed to the Dark"

Below, I created an interactive/visual version of Emily Dickinson's We Grow Accustomed to the Dark. I don't think it needs a visual version, the words are enough, I just had the idea and wanted to explore it a bit.

We Grow Accustomed to the Dark

We grow accustomed to the Dark --
When light is put away --
As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp
To witness her Goodbye --

A Moment -- We uncertain step
For newness of the night --
Then -- fit our Vision to the Dark --
And meet the Road -- erect --

And so of larger -- Darkness --
Those Evenings of the Brain --
When not a Moon disclose a sign --
Or Star -- come out -- within --

The Bravest -- grope a little --
And sometimes hit a Tree
Directly in the Forehead --
But as they learn to see --

Either the Darkness alters --
Or something in the sight
Adjusts itself to Midnight --
And Life steps almost straight.

Emily Dickinson

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/we-grow-accustomed-to-the-dark/

 This is also pretty cool... a visual poetry video by a student.

     What I like best about We Grow Accustomed to the Dark is the cadence and silkiness of the words when read aloud. They convey a sense of mystery and uncertainty. Dickinson's use of rhyme is subtle and not forced which is a style that I appreciate. Many times, I think that forcing a poem to perfectly rhyme takes away its integrity and power.

     I think the pronoun 'we' is important in implying that the experience described is a collective one. The experience of finding the way and adjusting to the dark is yours, mine, and therefore ours. Dickinson describes the literal adjustment of our eyes to darkness as well as the figurative. We all know the feeling of stepping the dark and physical sensation of our eyes adjusting. But what does it mean to adjust to the dark figuratively? She ends the poem by saying 'And Life steps almost straight' and I can't help but think that the result of our adjustment is the ability to see life from another perspective.