Emily Dickinson1830-1886

ENGL 2030—Fall 2013 | Lavery

Emily DickinsonENGL 2030—Fall 2013 | Lavery

Emily Dickinson

Over 1700 poems found after her death.

ENGL 2030: Experience of Literature—Poetry [Lavery]

ENGL 2030—Fall 2013 | Lavery

Emily Dickinson

ENGL 2030—Fall 2013 | Lavery

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

ENGL 2030—Fall 2013 | Lavery

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

ENGL 2030—Fall 2013 | Lavery

ENGL 2030—Fall 2013 | Lavery

Emily Dickinson

ENGL 2030: Experience of Literature—Poetry [Lavery]

ENGL 2030—Fall 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—Fall 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—Fall 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—Fall 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—Fall 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—Fall 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—Fall 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—Fall 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—Fall 2013 | Lavery

Emily Dickinson’s Last Letter:

Dear Cousins,

Called back.

Emily

ENGL 2030: Experience of Literature—Poetry [Lavery]

ENGL 2030—Fall 2013 | Lavery