"I'm Nobody! Who Are You?"
Version 1
I'm Nobody! Who are you? Are you — Nobody — too? Then there's a pair of us! Don't tell! they'd advertise — you know! How dreary — to be — Somebody! How public — like a Frog -- To tell one's name — the livelong June -- To an admiring Bog! |
Version 2
I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too? Then there's a pair of us — don't tell! They'd banish — you know! How dreary to be somebody! How public like a frog To tell one's name the livelong day To an admiring bog! |
Because Dickinson's works were published posthumously and in a time where conformity in art was expected, many of her poems have different versions, which is quite unusual. Generally, the most significant differences are in the syntax and dashes; the dashes are removed, making the poem look nicer, but taking away from the meaning of it. Also, Dickinson's usual choice of capitalizing nouns was removed as well. "I'm nobody! Who are you?" is a perfect example of this; the two poems are quite different, visually, audibly, and rhythmically; all of those differences cause the meanings to be different.
For example, look to lines 3 and 4 of each version. The most obvious difference is that "Don't tell!" is moved from the fourth line to the third. This changes the meaning of the words; in the first version, it is more separated from the excitement of the speaker of the companionship with the reader, and it is more tied to their desire for seclusion; it is in the same line as "they'd advertise." In the second version, it takes on a lighter meaning, the dash makes it an afterthought of their partnership. Furthermore, the change in what "they" (society) will do changes as well, from "advertise" to "banish." "Advertise" means that the partnership will be infiltrated by others, while "banish" means that the pair will be separated permanently; this contrasts with the earlier change, where the first version was "tougher," so the effect is really the same, though the relationship between speaker and reader has a slightly different connotation and forbiddenness. Finally, the fact that the end of the stanza—"you know!"—is kept the same is also significant, because the assumption of reader knowledge makes the relationship more intimate and adds to the meaning.
Another example of the difference between the poems is in the seventh line, with "livelong June" becoming "livelong day." This has less of a detailed impact on the poem, but it makes gives the life of the "somebody" a fleeting quality, as "June," symbolizes summer, which has a connotation of finite; "day" on the other hand, means that the proclamation of the name of the "somebody" will end at the dusk of night, but will resume.
Such differences in the syntax and diction of poetry is somewhat exclusive to that of Dickinson, and further contribute to the exception and individuality of her work.
For example, look to lines 3 and 4 of each version. The most obvious difference is that "Don't tell!" is moved from the fourth line to the third. This changes the meaning of the words; in the first version, it is more separated from the excitement of the speaker of the companionship with the reader, and it is more tied to their desire for seclusion; it is in the same line as "they'd advertise." In the second version, it takes on a lighter meaning, the dash makes it an afterthought of their partnership. Furthermore, the change in what "they" (society) will do changes as well, from "advertise" to "banish." "Advertise" means that the partnership will be infiltrated by others, while "banish" means that the pair will be separated permanently; this contrasts with the earlier change, where the first version was "tougher," so the effect is really the same, though the relationship between speaker and reader has a slightly different connotation and forbiddenness. Finally, the fact that the end of the stanza—"you know!"—is kept the same is also significant, because the assumption of reader knowledge makes the relationship more intimate and adds to the meaning.
Another example of the difference between the poems is in the seventh line, with "livelong June" becoming "livelong day." This has less of a detailed impact on the poem, but it makes gives the life of the "somebody" a fleeting quality, as "June," symbolizes summer, which has a connotation of finite; "day" on the other hand, means that the proclamation of the name of the "somebody" will end at the dusk of night, but will resume.
Such differences in the syntax and diction of poetry is somewhat exclusive to that of Dickinson, and further contribute to the exception and individuality of her work.