In honor of her birthday, Miss Emily Dickinson's Poem 670:
One need not be a Chamber -- to be Haunted --
One need not be a House --
The Brain has Corridors -- surpassing
Material Place --
Far safer, of a Midnight Meeting
External Ghost
Than its interior Confronting --
That Cooler Host.
Far safer, through an Abbey gallop,
The Stones a'chase --
Than Unarmed, one's a'self encounter --
In lonesome Place --
Ourself behind ourself, concealed --
Should startle most --
Assassin hid in our Apartment
Be Horror's least.
The Body -- borrows a Revolver --
He bolts the Door --
O'erlooking a superior spectre --
Or More --
No one compares to Miss Dickinson.
ReplyDeleteLove that poem. She was quite a lady.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
She is simply the best. Even 180 years later, truth is truth.
ReplyDeleteI always find her poems to be haunting - they stay with us for a long time :)
ReplyDeleteI do adore Miss Dickinson, but I honestly don't think I've ever seen that particular poem before. Definitely haunting, but beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for following my blog!
Emily had a way of illustrating interior life, this poem is a prime example.
ReplyDeleteWhen I reads her poems I always get the feeling it took her time. I feel her pauses, if that makes any sense.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the poem.
You have a brilliant weekend.
I hesitate to add to the comments because the poem stands on its own. Let me just say I am so glad so many people feel as moved by Emily Dickinson as I do. And welcome to all the new commenters and followers!
ReplyDeleteMichele
Absolutely love that poem! Thanks for posting it :)
ReplyDeleteI love that she played with punctuation. A rule-breaker. A rebel.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this. :)