I would like an analysis of Emily Dickinson's poem "As if i asked a common alms" in regards to what the color purple represents.What does purple...

The poetry of Emily Dickinson commonly included reference
to the color purple. Purple has many different meanings when used in a work. It can
represent a balance given purple is created by using red (the warmest color) and blue
(the coolest color). It can also represent nobility and spirituality (think the garb
worn by both kings and priests). Naturalistically, purple is the color of many flowers
which are considered both precious and frail. Lastly, the color purple is associated
with mourning.

As for the use of the color purple in
Dickinson's poem "As if I asked a common alms", one must first define any words which
may cause confusion for you as a reader.

Alms- donations
given to the poor (typically food or money)

Morn- the
period of time denoted as existing between dawn and
noon

Dike- either a waterway, a bank used to confine water,
or a barrier which prevents the passage of something deemed
undesirable.

This terms being defined allow for a more
understandable position on the poem. A common theme of the poem is spirituality and hope
as denoted by the terms 'alms', 'Kingdom', and 'asked.'

As
for the use or meaning of the color purple, it could be understood to represent the hope
(based upon spirituality) that all questions will be answered once dawn (symbolizing
enlightening) breaks as the dike (symbolizing darkness) is lifted. The description of
the dike being purple shows what must be changed in the scheme of things so as to bring
the answers to the questions the speaker so vehemently needs.