Dickinson as work and pleasure reading
I have been reading an extensive collection of Dickinson poems for my English class, but I have come to enjoy it very much. One of my favorite poems is #516:
Beauty-be not caused- It Is-
Chase it, and it ceases-
Chase it not, and it abides-
Overtake the creases
In the Meadow- when the Wind
Runs his fingers thro' it-
Deity will see to it
That You never do it-
This poem refers to the Romantic ideal of Beauty and how it is an "ideal" for a reason. It is not meant to be attained; however, many people (such as mainstream Romanticists) waste their entire lives on a "never-ending chase," searching for something that can never be found. The more they search, the farther they are from reaching it; however, if they leave it alone, they find that they are content with admiring it from afar.
"Overtake the creases" refers to overcoming the obstacles that prevent you from reaching the truth. However, as seen in the last stanza, "Deity will see to it That You never do it." Whether it is a divine figure or just destiny, it is a fact that Beauty (and other ideals) can never be truly understood.