I’m a writer of both fiction and nonfiction, but my first love has always been poetry. Ever since I can remember, I’ve scribbled lines and verses on any scrap of paper available. For all the poets out there–you know what I mean. The words come out of the blue and you frantically search for something to write on, knowing if you don’t get them down right away, they’ll disappear.
There are days when I wake and find myself unable to concentrate on anything other than poetry. I feel a great need to read the words of my favorite poets or my own. This morning, I thumbed through some of my most treasured volumes and as happens more often than not, Emily Dickinson was the one I chose to read.
I’m putting two of my favorites here for you to enjoy. The first one, “I’m Nobody! Who Are You?” is my all time favorite poem. I can so relate to the sarcasm and depth of emotion expressed here. I also love the subtle touch of humor.
I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Are you – Nobody – too?
Then there’s a pair of us?
Don’t tell! they’d advertise – you know!
How dreary – to be – Somebody!
How public – like a Frog –
To tell one’s name – the livelong June –
To an admiring Bog!
…….Emily Dickinson
I feel this next poem, “Fame Is A Fickle Food”, goes beautifully with the first.
Fame is a fickle food
Upon a shifting plate
Whose table once a
Guest but not
The second time is set.
Whose crumbs the crows inspect
And with ironic caw
Flap past it to the Farmer’s Corn –
Men eat of it and die.
……Emily Dickinson
Elizabeth Melton Parsons 
August 7, 2008 at 2:36 am
Elizabeth:
Thanks for your favorite Emily poems. i have a number of E. D. favorites. But a few that come to mind:
I died for Beauty – but was scarce
Adjusted in the Tomb
When One who died for Truth, was lain
In an adjoining Room –
He questioned softly “Why I failed”?
“For Beauty,” I replied –
“And I – for Truth – Themself are One –
We Brethren, are,” He said –
And so, as Kinsmen, met a Night –
We talked between the Rooms –
Until the Moss had reached our lips –
And covered up – Our names –
and a second:
The Brain—is wider than the Sky—
For—put them side by side—
The one the other will contain
With ease—and You—beside—
The Brain is deeper than the sea—
For—hold them—Blue to Blue—
The one the other will absorb—
As Sponges—Buckets—do—
The Brain is just the weight of God—
For—Heft them—Pound for Pound—
And they will differ—if they do—
As Syllable from Sound—
Take care,
Bob
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August 7, 2008 at 11:32 am
How wonderful to find that a gracious visitor has left me with not one gift of Emily to start my day, but two. Thank you, Bob.
I adore this verse….
“The Brain is deeper than the sea—
For—hold them—Blue to Blue—
The one the other will absorb—
As Sponges—Buckets—do—”
Elizabeth
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