Rethink.

A nearness to Tremendousness (963) Emily Dickinson A nearness to Tremendousness — An Agony procures — Affliction ranges Boundlessness — Vicinity to Laws Contentment’s quiet Suburb — Affliction cannot stay In Acres — Its Location Is Illocality — Comment: Perhaps pain is a privation. If so, what “Agony procures” is a large nothing; it is …

No Prisoner be (720) Emily Dickinson No Prisoner be — Where Liberty — Himself — abide with Thee — Comment: This is a strange poem. Isn’t “Liberty” usually female? “Himself” seems to invoke Christ, and “abide with Thee” shows up in one way or another a number of places (using the KJV): Leviticus 19:13 – …

Doom is the House without the Door (475) Emily Dickinson Doom is the House without the Door – ‘Tis entered from the Sun – And then the Ladder’s thrown away, Because Escape – is done – ‘Tis varied by the Dream Of what they do outside – Where Squirrels play – and Berries die – …

The Leaves like Women interchange (987) Emily Dickinson The Leaves like Women interchange Exclusive Confidence – Somewhat of nods and somewhat Portentous inference. The Parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy – Inviolable compact To notoriety. Comment: “Portentous:” the inference that “somewhat” composes the confidence of leaves and women can be either obnoxious or prophetic. Leaves …

We knew not that we were to live (1462) Emily Dickinson We knew not that we were to live – Nor when – we are to die – Our ignorance – our cuirass is – We wear Mortality As lightly as an Option Gown Till asked to take it off – By his intrusion, God …

This is my letter to the World (441) Emily Dickinson This is my letter to the World That never wrote to Me – The simple News that Nature told – With tender Majesty Her Message is committed To Hands I cannot see – For love of Her – Sweet – countrymen – Judge tenderly – …

With thanks to Ian Skemp and Grace Pham The difference between Despair (305) Emily Dickinson The difference between Despair And Fear – is like the One Between the instant of a Wreck And when the Wreck has been – The Mind is smooth – no Motion – Contented as the Eye Upon the Forehead of …

So glad we are – a Stranger’d deem (329) Emily Dickinson So glad we are – a Stranger’d deem ‘Twas sorry, that we were – For where the Holiday should be There publishes a Tear – Nor how Ourselves be justified – Since Grief and Joy are done So similar – An Optizan Could not …

It’s like the Light (297) Emily Dickinson It’s like the Light – A fashionless Delight – It’s like the Bee – A dateless – Melody – It’s like the Woods – Private – Like the Breeze – Phraseless – yet it stirs The proudest Trees – It’s like the Morning – Best – when it’s …

A Thought went up my mind today (701) Emily Dickinson A Thought went up my mind today – That I have had before – But did not finish – some way back – I could not fix the Year – Nor where it went – nor why it came The second time to me – …