We never know how high we are

“We never know how high we are” is a lyrical poem. The poem is short and compact, containing a total of two stanzas and eight lines. Unlike a fair amount of lyrical poems, “We never know how we are” lacks an “I.” The speaker doesn’t talk from an ostensibly personal perspective, instead using the first person, plural pronoun “we.” In “We never know how high we are,” the speaker takes on the voice of humankind to convey a broad insight into humanity. The meaning and gravity of that insight is open for debate; like many Dickinson poems, “We never know how high we are” resembles a puzzle with pieces that fit together in multiple ways. It aims to teach the reader a lesson or convey to the reader a central trait of humanity. Since there might be multiple, conflicting lessons, the poem also qualifies as a riddle, and the answer to the riddle depends on the interpretation.

From the very first “we” Line 1, the poem’s diction is inclusive and sweeping. The speaker isn’t addressing a specific person or set of people, they’re talking about everyone. “We never know how high we are,” states the speaker.