Emily Dickinson1830-1886

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

Emily DickinsonENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

Emily Dickinson

Over 1700 poems found after her death.

ENGL 2030: Experience of Literature—Poetry [Lavery]

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

Emily Dickinson

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

“Poetry takes the top of your head off.”—Emily Dickinson

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

Emily Dickinson meets Attila the Hun on Steve Allen’s Meeting of Minds

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

Emily Dickinson

ENGL 2030: Experience of Literature—Poetry [Lavery]

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

Miguel de Unamuno (1864-1936)

Asked if he believed in god, Unamumo once replied: “I do now, but I didn’t ten minutes ago and I might not ten minutes from now.”

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

324

Some keep the Sabbath going to Church --I keep it, staying at Home --With a Bobolink for a Chorister --And an Orchard, for a Dome --

Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice --I just wear my Wings --And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,Our little Sexton -- sings.

God preaches, a noted Clergyman --And the sermon is never long,So instead of getting to Heaven, at last --I'm going, all along.

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

67

Success is counted sweetestBy those who ne'er succeed.To comprehend a nectarRequires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple HostWho took the Flag todayCan tell the definitionSo clear of Victory

As he defeated -- dying --On whose forbidden earThe distant strains of triumphBurst agonized and clear!

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

254

"Hope" is the thing with feathers—That perches in the soul—And sings the tune without the words—And never stops—at all—

And sweetest—in the Gale—is heard—And sore must be the storm—That could abash the little BirdThat kept so many warm—

I've heard it in the chillest land—And on the strangest Sea—Yet, never, in Extremity,It asked a crumb—of Me.

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

465

I heard a Fly buzz – when I died – The Stillness in the RoomWas like the Stillness in the Air – Between the Heaves of Storm –

The Eyes around – had wrung them dry – And Breaths were gathering firmFor that last Onset – when the KingBe witnessed – in the Room –

I willed my Keepsakes – Signed awayWhat portions of me beAssignable – and then it wasThere interposed a Fly –

With Blue – uncertain stumbling Buzz – Between the light – and me – And then the Windows failed – and thenI could not see to see –

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

341

After great pain, a formal feeling comes --The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs --The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore,And Yesterday, or Centuries before?

The Feet, mechanical, go round --Of Ground, or Air, or Ought --A Wooden wayRegardless grown,A Quartz contentment, like a stone --

This is the Hour of Lead --Remembered, if outlived,As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow --First -- Chill -- then Stupor -- then the letting go --

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

280

I felt a funeral in my brain,        And mourners, to and fro,Kept treading, treading, till it seemed        That sense was breaking through.And when they all were seated,        A service like a drumKept beating, beating, till I thought         My mind was going numb. And then I heard them lift a box,        And creak across my soulWith those same boots of lead,        Then space began to tollAs all the heavens were a bell,        And Being but an ear,And I and silence some strange race,         Wrecked, solitary, here.And then a plank in reason, broke,        And I dropped down and down--And hit a world at every plunge,        And finished knowing—then--

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

249

Wild Nights – Wild Nights!Were I with theeWild Nights should beOur luxury!

Futile – the winds –To a heart in port –Done with the compass –Done with the chart!

Rowing in Eden –Ah, the sea!Might I moor – Tonight –In thee!

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

479

Because I could not stop for Death –He kindly stopped for me –The Carriage held but just Ourselves –And Immortality.

We slowly drove – He knew no hasteAnd I had put awayMy labor and my leisure too,For His Civility –

We passed the School, where Children stroveAt Recess – in the Ring –We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –We passed the Setting Sun –

Or rather – He passed Us –The Dews drew quivering and Chill –For only Gossamer, my Gown –My Tippet – only Tulle –

We paused before a House that seemedA Swelling of the Ground –The Roof was scarcely visible –The Cornice – in the Ground –

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yetFeels shorter than the DayI first surmised the Horses' HeadsWere toward Eternity –

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

479

Because I could not stop for Death –He kindly stopped for me –The Carriage held but just Ourselves –And Immortality.

We slowly drove – He knew no hasteAnd I had put awayMy labor and my leisure too,For His Civility –

We passed the School, where Children stroveAt Recess – in the Ring –We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –We passed the Setting Sun –

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

479 (continued)

Or rather – He passed Us –The Dews drew quivering and Chill –For only Gossamer, my Gown –My Tippet – only Tulle –

We paused before a House that seemedA Swelling of the Ground –The Roof was scarcely visible –The Cornice – in the Ground –

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yetFeels shorter than the DayI first surmised the Horses' HeadsWere toward Eternity –

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

448

This was a Poet -- It is ThatDistills amazing senseFrom ordinary Meanings --And Attar so immense

From the familiar speciesThat perished by the Door --We wonder it was not OurselvesArrested it -- before --

Of Pictures, the Discloser --The Poet -- it is He --Entitles Us -- by Contrast --To ceaseless Poverty --

Of portion -- so unconscious --The Robbing -- could not harm --Himself -- to Him -- a Fortune --Exterior -- to Time --

Ars poetica (the art of poetry)—a poetic subgenre about the nature of poetry and poets.

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery

Emily Dickinson’s Last Letter:

Dear Cousins,

Called back.

Emily

ENGL 2030: Experience of Literature—Poetry [Lavery]

ENGL 2030—Summer 2013 | Lavery