Are you nobody, too?

Then there's a pair of us -- don't tell!

They'd banish us, you know.

How dreary to be somebody!

How public, like a frog

To tell your name the livelong day

To an admiring bog!

Emily Dickinson was a master poet. Her poem "I'm nobody who are you?" is fitting of her reclusive personality which developed later in her life. I believe the poem also holds a deeper meaning. Emily was born into one of the most prominent families in Amherst, Massachusetts. I would imagine, being in a family such as this would not allow for much of a private lifestyle. In my opinion, she tired of everyone knowing who she was and everything she did. I, personally, would not want everyone to know if I were having a crisis in my life. There are many times in one's life that an audience is not appropriate. I wonder if Emily was feeling scrutinized by the public. Could this have played a role in her turning into a recluse later in life?

I find Emily's approach to the subject refreshing and light. She was creative with her meter and rhyming pattern, and yet it still flows very nicely. Third line in the poem is my favorite line because it is unexpected, creative, and out of the ordinary. I think the poem gives new light to being famous. Maybe it is not such a wonderful thing for everyone to know who you are. Maybe it is a good thing to be a nobody. After all, I think Emily does a good job of letting us know that even nobodies are special.