I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Are you Nobody too?
Then there’s a pair of us!
Don’t tell, they’d advertise – you know!
How dreary – to be – Somebody!
How public – like a Frog –
To tell one’s name – the livelong June –
To an admiring Bog!
This poem by Emily Dickinson explores the idea of identity and fame. The speaker declares that they are a Nobody, and asks if the reader is also a Nobody. The tone is playful and secretive, as if being a Nobody is a sort of secret club.
The speaker then goes on to suggest that being Somebody, or famous, is actually quite dreary. It is like being a public figure, constantly on display and having to perform for an audience. The imagery of the Frog telling its name to the Bog emphasizes the idea of performing for an audience.
Overall, the poem celebrates the idea of anonymity and suggests that it is preferable to fame and public recognition.
Breakdown
STANZA ONE
I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Are you Nobody too?
Then there’s a pair of us!
Don’t tell, they’d advertise – you know!
In this stanza, the speaker declares that they are Nobody and asks if the reader is also Nobody. They suggest that if the reader is also Nobody, then they are a pair, but warns against telling anyone else, as they might advertise it and ruin their shared anonymity.
STANZA TWO
How dreary – to be – Somebody!
How public – like a Frog –
To tell one’s name – the livelong June –
To an admiring Bog!
In this stanza, the speaker suggests that being Somebody, or famous, is actually quite dreary. They use the image of a Frog telling its name to an admiring Bog as a metaphor for the performative nature of fame. The imagery suggests that being famous is like being constantly on display and having to perform for an audience. The livelong June suggests that the public scrutiny is ongoing and never-ending.
Overall, the poem contrasts the idea of being Nobody with the dreariness of being Somebody. It suggests that anonymity and privacy are preferable to fame and public recognition.
Then there’s a pair of us! Don’t tell! they’d
advertise – you know! How dreary – to be – Somebody!
– Emily Dickinson
