Question

He ate and drank the precious words,

His spirit grew robust;
He knew no more that he was poor,
Nor that his frame was dust.
He danced along the dingy days.
And this bequest of wings
Was but a book. What liberty
A loosened spirit brings!

What is the theme of this poem?

Answer 1

He ate and drank the precious words by Emily Dickinson

‘He ate and drank the precious words’ by Emily Dickinson is an uplifting poem. It celebrates the joys of reading by describing one man’s experience.

‘He ate and drank the precious words’ is one of three poems that were later included in a short book of poems that was published with young children in mind. The poems are illustrated with images that connect to the three poems in the volume. The other two ‘There is no Frigate like a Book’ (the title poem) and ‘A Drop fell on the Apple Tree’.