This is my week to share a favorite poem which wasn’t an
easy task. I have so many. As I have stated numerous times the first poet I fell in
love with was Edgar Allen Poe. His dark works spoke to the darkness in me and
helped my find my voice to share the pain I had been hiding from abuse. I often
read his work when I need inspiration.
Today I have chosen to step away from Poe’s influence and
speak of Emily Dickinson. She was introverted and reclusive and that resonated
with me when I was young. Many who know me or have known me through the years
would never describe me that way, but the “me” I shared with the world was very different from the “me” I held inside. I
was literally hiding in plain sight. I retreated in laughter to avoid having
anyone discover the turmoil behind the grinning imp I portrayed.
Emily Norcross Dickinson, 1840 by O.A. Bullard
As a young child reading helped me escape the
trauma I kept hidden. When I was lost in a book, the world was a much kinder
and brighter place. Through words I found wings to fly beyond my circumstances
as Emily’s poem so beautifully relates.
Part One: Life
XXI
He ate and drank the precious words,
his spirit grew robust;
He knew no more that he was poor,
nor that his frame was dust.
He danced along the dingy days,
and this bequest of wings
was but a book. What liberty
a loosened spirit brings!
32 comments:
Fabulous choice, Susie. I loved Emily Dickinson, too, and I'm so glad she was there to help you. I "ate and drank precious words" as much as I could when I was young.
K
Thank you Kay. Emily remains one of my favorites.
What a beautiful post, Susie. Thank you for sharing so honestly about your pain. Much of what you said sounds familiar. It wouldn't have been easy at all to share these feelings if you didn't find yourself completely at home with your companions here. Trust and acceptance---the brush of their hands, such as this, is the truest sense of love.
~henna
Well, you know I love your choice of author! What you may not know is that, up until as recently as 1950, her poems were still appearing in edited form, with her characteristic dashes and caps removed. Check this out:
He ate and drank the precious Words --
His Spirit grew robust --
He knew no more that he was poor,
Nor that his frame was Dust --
He danced along the dingy Days
And this Bequest of Wings
Was but a Book -- What Liberty
A loosened spirit brings --
Great choice! I think many of us escaped into books (and poetry!) to help us cope. My daughter just finished a presentation on Emily Dickinson-another generation to appreciate her!
I, too, am lapping up your choice. ...But a Book" wonderful.
You certainly could not have chosen anyone finer than Emily Dickenson. Great, great poet.
Love Emily! Excellent post, Susie, thank you!
Emily Dickinson is one of those poets who stands out from her age, and springs ahead to show the way poets will be writing in the future. She loosened ties of formal writing - hence being over-edited to a more acceptable form for her day. I love her for her gentle spirit, her philosophy and her innovation. Thank you for sharing her words with us, Susie and for telling us why she means so much to you personally.
Per Fireblossom above AND Emily Dickinson -- dashes are OK! Woohoo!
I too got "lost" in books when a youth -- not due to any abuse or escapism, just pure indulgence and love. Either way, I must have needed it. I wonder what youth do today as so few read (TV is NOT the same thing)
Bless you for sharing your pain, your struggle. I'm going to read Emily Dickinson for the next few days.
Susie, i wish you would come visit me... i've talked about this here before, but right now at my office i'm literally a short stroll away from the Dickinson homestead from which Emily wrote, looking out her windows. come visit me and her!
Susie, your words spoke straight to my heart. I, too, hid pain behind the "grinning imp" persona. I too found books an escape and also, a way to try to understand the world and human nature. Love your choice of poem, and this wonderful post - all of it brings connection, and validation. Of the journey, and of sisterhood.
I love this choice!
What a great share, Suzie. I love the last two lines of this poem. Pure, wise guidance.
I wasn't familiar with this bit of Dickinson poetry ... oh my, how these few lines filled up every inch of me! Thank you so much for sharing this .. and for sharing yourself.
@henna, thank you. I am so thankful for my fellow toads. They have blessed my heart.
@Fireblossom, thank you for sharing. I wasn't aware of it. Emily has been such a gift to me.
@Lolamouse, how exciting to see another generation appreciating Emily!
@Susan, thanks. :)
@Dave, thank you
@Hannah, thank you. There was so much more I could have written, but something in me said it was enough.
@Kerry, thank you. I am not sure I shared the poem here, but I wrote one a while back titled, Dear Emily.
@Margaret, thank you. I too fear for youth because so many don't read any more and are in the abbreviated world of texting.
@Marian, I just may take you up on it some time next year! How I would love to see where Emily wrote her poetry and to visit you!
@Sherry, thank you. There is much that unites those of us who write.
@Mama Zen, Thanks!
@Kim, thank you. There were so many I could have chosen, but this one effected me so much because it seemed she was speaking of me.
@Helen, thank you. So glad I could present new poetry to you. The beauty of life, there is always something to bring us new wonder.
Susie, every word rings true, and I so understand--books(and school) were my safe places, also, and the nurturing that allowed me to grow and survive. I, too, was first drawn to Poe, darkness to darkness, but in later life, the light comes through, and Emily is a shining example. Lovely share--thank you very much.
@hedgewitch, thank you. So thankful we found light to shine in our darkness.
What a lovely selection Susie ~ Thank you for sharing her work with us ~ Her words shine strong and clear above other writers ~
@Grace, Emily is certainly a light among so many poets to choose from. Thank you
Susie, I am a little bit late with my comment here. I really liked the poem you shared by Emily Dickinson. THIS is one I had not been familiar with, but it really resonates with me.
@Mary, thank you. I am always finding new tidbits of Emily I didn't know or hadn't read.
Thanks for sharing this story! I can relate to what you were saying about how you were introverted and recluse, and also how sometimes you were lost in books to escape into a different reality.
@Vuong, thank you for stopping by and commenting
Wonderful Susie! Thank you for sharing your voice and hers~ ((hugs))
@Ella, It was my pleasure to share Emily's work and what it meant/means to me.
Only just noticed this.
So good to be introduced to her by you. Thank you Susie.
So many poets I have never even read a morsel from. It helps to have them introduced to one by people you know. Such a good idea, this favourite poems series
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