Emily Dickinson: Tell all the Truth but tell it slant

This is one of my favorite poems of Emily Dickinson.  Light is used as a metaphor for truth here, which is often used. Gwendolyn Brooks uses light and sun to depict truth in her poem Truth and explains what happens if Truth knocks on your door: it is scary. Guru Nanak similarly says in his poem about truth that it is difficult to tell the truth (aakhan aukha saacha nao). Emily Dickinson gives the reason here:  

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

Satnam - Meditation on the True Name


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