Emily Dickinson

A wounded deer leaps highest

Summary

This poem explores the concept that outward appearances can often mask inner suffering and distress. It uses vivid metaphors to depict how entities like a wounded deer or a smitten rock may display a moment of intense vitality or beauty just before succumbing to their injuries or breaking point. The imagery of a cheek always redder and mirth as the mail of anguish suggests that visible signs of joy or normalcy can be misleading, as they may conceal underlying pain or emotional turmoil. The poem implies that laughter or happiness might serve as a protective shield to prevent others from perceiving one's true vulnerability and saying You're hurt. Through this lens, the poem offers insights into human behavior and the often hidden nature of emotional suffering, serving as a reminder of the complexities and contradictions within the human experience.

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A wounded deer leaps highest,
I’ve heard the hunter tell;
‘T is but the ecstasy of death,
And then the brake is still.

The smitten rock that gushes,
The trampled steel that springs:
A cheek is always redder
Just where the hectic stings!

Mirth is the mail of anguish,
In which it cautions arm,
Lest anybody spy the blood
And “You’re hurt” exclaim!

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