The poem takes place in the speaker's psyche, where she decides to gather and reunite her scattered selves. She compares her whole self to a polished crystal ball that provides various insights into her life, nature, and the lives of other people. In the second stanza, the speaker's self becomes a private sanctuary where she can safely see images of the outside world from a distance. On the one hand, remaining in a fortress-like solitude cuts her off from other people. But on the other hand, she spends her time gazing at those who she chooses not to join. In that sense, she remains connected to them through her contemplation.