Success tastes sweetest.
People who never succeed think.
Have an urgent desire,
In order to taste the sweetness of honey.
Today is responsible for the flag.
Magpies line up.
No one can be as real as him.
Tell the truth about victory.
He was defeated and dying-
Deaf ears suddenly sounded.
Distant victory melody
Extreme pain and clarity!
This is Dickinson's masterpiece with the theme of "compensation". Poetry tells us that no one can deeply and thoroughly appreciate the joy and sweetness of success like those who have suffered from failure. This is the theme of this poem.
In the first paragraph of the poem, Dickinson sums up the thoughts of people who have never succeeded: they cherish their unsuccessful success more than others, as three or four sentences say, only those who are really thirsty and in urgent need can taste the sweetness of honey. This analogy is very common in Dickinson's poems, that is, it is not directly expounded, but something similar is found to prove it.
In order to further elaborate the theme, this poem dramatically describes the poet's feelings after being frustrated. The poet did not describe the meaning of victory through a group of victorious soldiers, but wrote the feelings of people lying on the ground fighting death. They can better show the meaning of victory. In the third quarter, he (he) listened to the cheers of victory in the distance, and his pain became extremely clear, which means that he can fully understand the practical significance of victory at this time.
I don't think the ear ban in the third quarter can be literally understood as deafness, but there is a feeling of being forced. Context, the so-called "forced" means that his life is over, so he must try his best to listen and breathe, because he will not live long, and it is at this time that he seems to really understand what victory is. At this time, if we look back at the whole poem, readers will have a deeper understanding of Dickinson's saying that success is the sweetest taste.
I hope my understanding can help you a little.