Dazzle Gradually

Friday, December 20

Today’s post is by guest author Heather Johnston. The text is the poem “Tell all the truth but tell it slant” by Emily Dickinson.

Tell all the truth but tell it slant —
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth's superb surprise
As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind —

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When I first read this poem, I interpreted it as providing advice for one of the most common challenges of interpersonal communication, which is how to tell the truth without hurting someone. But reading it now, I’m reminded also of the way we tell ourselves the truth. Telling ourselves the truth is good and important, and also sometimes needs ot be done with a bit of art. When contemplating matters such as the scale of suffering in the world, or our own mortality, it can be better to have a light touch with the truth, lest we blind ourselves.