I started Early – Took my Dog, Emily Dickinson: Summary, Analysis & Themes

"I started Early – Took my Dog," a poem by Emily Dickinson, is a surreal exploration of the speaker's encounter with the sea, imbued with mystical and personified elements. The poem narrates a morning walk with a dog to the sea, where the speaker experiences an eerie and almost dreamlike interaction with the ocean, depicted as a powerful male entity. Through this encounter, Dickinson delves into themes of nature, power, and the self, with her characteristic blend of simplicity and depth. Poem: "I started Early – Took my Dog" I started Early – Took my Dog – And visited the Sea – The Mermaids in the Basement Came out to look at me – And Frigates – in the Upper Floor Extended Hempen Hands – Presuming Me to be a Mouse – Aground – opon the Sands – But no Man moved Me – till the Tide Went past my simple Shoe – And past my Apron – and my Belt And past my Boddice – too – …