When the Astronomer stops seeking

When the Astronomer stops seeking
For his Pleiad’s Face —
When the lone British Lady
Forsakes the Arctic Race

When to his Covenant Needle
The Sailor doubting turns —
It will be amply early
To ask what treason means

Emily Dickinson

Sir John Franklin’s ill-fate arctic expedition

When the observer stops seeking
For his Pleiad’s Face —
When Mrs. Franklin
Abandons the Arctic Race

When the Sailor becomes doubting
To his constant Needle —
It will be too early
To ask what means infidelity.

The Poem tells us about Sir John Franklin’s arctic expedition at cost of all members’ lives.

* “When the Astronomer stops seeking/For his Pleiad’s Face”
Pleiades give the go signal for sailing. When the ships are packed in iceberg, it is meaningless to observe Pleiades.

* “the lone British Lady”
Mrs. Franklin, wife of Sir John Franklin

* “When to his Covenant Needle/The Sailor doubting turns”
They reached the magnetic north or their ships couldn’t move.