"We grow accustomed to the Dark" was written by the American poet Emily Dickinson around 1862. The poem speaks to the human capacity for survival and resilience in the face of hardship and uncertainty, something the speaker metaphorically compares to stumbling around in the dark until one's eyes adjust to the lack of light. The speaker deems the "Bravest" people to be those willing to accept—and embrace—life's "darknesses." And those who accept the darkness, the poem suggests, start to find it a little less frightening.
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1We grow accustomed to the Dark —
2When Light is put away —
3As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp
4To witness her Goodbye —
5A Moment — We Uncertain step
6For newness of the night —
7Then — fit our Vision to the Dark —
8And meet the Road — erect —
9And so of larger — Darknesses —
10Those Evenings of the Brain —
11When not a Moon disclose a sign —
12Or Star — come out — within —
13The Bravest — grope a little —
14And sometimes hit a Tree
15Directly in the Forehead —
16But as they learn to see —
17Either the Darkness alters —
18Or something in the sight
19Adjusts itself to Midnight —
20And Life steps almost straight.
1We grow accustomed to the Dark —
2When Light is put away —
3As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp
4To witness her Goodbye —
5A Moment — We Uncertain step
6For newness of the night —
7Then — fit our Vision to the Dark —
8And meet the Road — erect —
9And so of larger — Darknesses —
10Those Evenings of the Brain —
11When not a Moon disclose a sign —
12Or Star — come out — within —
13The Bravest — grope a little —
14And sometimes hit a Tree
15Directly in the Forehead —
16But as they learn to see —
17Either the Darkness alters —
18Or something in the sight
19Adjusts itself to Midnight —
20And Life steps almost straight.
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 — Darknesses —
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.
Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.
Dickinson's Darknesses — A theory about the poet's notorious reclusiveness.
The Poem Out Loud — Check out an animation and reading of the poem.
More Poems and Dickinson's Biography — A valuable resource from the Poetry Foundation.
Dickinson's Process — An intriguing article about the more material side of Dickinson's writing.
Dickinson's Letters — Fascinating excerpts from Dickinson's correspondence.