Rethink.

“The Spirit is the Conscious Ear” (733) Emily Dickinson The Spirit is the Conscious Ear. We actually Hear When We inspect — that’s audible — That is admitted — Here — For other Services — as Sound — There hangs a smaller Ear Outside the Castle — that Contain — The other — only — …

Perception of an object costs (1071) Emily Dickinson Perception of an object costs Precise the Object’s loss — Perception in itself a Gain Replying to its Price — The Object Absolute — is nought — Perception sets it fair And then upbraids a Perfectness That situates so far — Comment: This poem seems to engage …

With thanks to Thomas Lowery To die — without the Dying (1017) Emily Dickinson To die — without the Dying And live — without the Life This is the hardest Miracle Propounded to Belief. Comment: What is “the hardest miracle propounded to belief?” What does one who wants to believe find most difficult to accept? …

Denial — is the only fact (965) Emily Dickinson Denial — is the only fact Perceived by the Denied — Whose Will — a numb significance — The Day the Heaven died — And all the Earth strove common round — Without Delight, or Beam — What Comfort was it Wisdom — was — The …

The Sky is low (1075) Emily Dickinson The Sky is low — the Clouds are mean. A Travelling Flake of Snow Across a Barn or through a Rut Debates if it will go — A Narrow Wind complains all Day How some one treated him Nature, like Us is sometimes caught Without her Diadem. Comment: …

Superiority to Fate (1081) Emily Dickinson Superiority to Fate Is difficult to gain ‘Tis not conferred of Any But possible to earn A pittance at a time Until to Her surprise The Soul with strict economy Subsist till Paradise. Comment: 1. I’ve been productive and have had a lot of fun recently – my thanks …

Embarrassment of one another (662) Emily Dickinson Embarrassment of one another And God Is Revelation’s limit, Aloud Is nothing that is chief, But still, Divinity dwells under a seal. Comment: 1. Let’s start with the first three lines. “Revelation’s limit:” the limit both defines Revelation and irks it. Shame is necessary for piety; one (the?) …

With thanks to Temperance Dewar Except the smaller size (1067) Emily Dickinson Except the smaller size No lives are round — These — hurry to a sphere And show and end — The larger — slower grow And later hang — The Summers of Hesperides Are long. Comment: This poem has a peculiar context. It …

Fame’s Boys and Girls, who never die (1066) Emily Dickinson Fame’s Boys and Girls, who never die And are too seldom born — Comment: No idea what this means or where it is from. It could be from a letter, it could be referencing a specific event. Going to pretend that it has larger implications …

I had daily Bliss (1057) Emily Dickinson I had a daily Bliss I half indifferent viewed Till sudden I perceived it stir — It grew as I pursued Till when around a Height It wasted from my sight Increased beyond my utmost scope I learned to estimate. Comment: This poem sounds obvious. I crossed out …