Emily Dickinson: Selected Poems

by Louise Guinness

A collection of classic poems that provide an accessible introduction to the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Printed in a high quality, cloth edition each volume in the Crane Classics makes an attractive gift.

Genres: Poetry

64 pages, Hardcover

Published June 28, 2019

Reviews

[Kai Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite is “Hope is the Thing With Feathers”

[Andy Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Selected Poems” by Emily Dickinson
[9781912945078] by Louise Guinness.

Even if you have read all of her poems, this beautiful book is a delight to collect, hold, and read.
Thanks to my darling wife for this surprise gift. 😊

“Success is counted sweetest”. Lovely poem
..

“If I can stop one heart from breaking”. You did not die in vain Miss Dickinson!
…

“I taste a liquor never brewed”. Her choice of words and imagery are astonishing.
….

"Hope" is the thing with feathers”. Fascinating!

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.

..
“I like to see it lap the Miles”. Her unique punctuation is evident here.
.
I like to see it lap the Miles -

And lick the Valleys up -
And stop to feed itself at Tanks -
And then - prodigious step

Around a Pile of Mountains -
And supercilious peer
In Shanties - by the sides of Roads -
And then a Quarry pare

To fit its sides
And crawl between
Complaining all the while
In horrid - hooting stanza -
Then chase itself down Hill -

And neigh like Boanerges -
Then - prompter than a Star
Stop - docile and omnipotent
At it's own stable door -
…

“There is no Frigate like a Book”. The expansiveness of story and our human incapacity to contain the beauty of narrative!
.
“There is no Frigate like a Book”
To take us Lands away
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry –
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll –
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears the Human Soul –“
..

“I Started Early, Took My Dog”. This is intense when you consider it.
.
I started Early – Took my Dog –
And visited the Sea –
The Mermaids in the Basement
Came out to look at me –

And Frigates – in the Upper Floor
Extended Hempen Hands –
Presuming Me to be a Mouse –
Aground – opon the Sands –

But no Man moved Me – till the Tide
Went past my simple Shoe –
And past my Apron – and my Belt
And past my Boddice – too –

And made as He would eat me up –
As wholly as a Dew
Opon a Dandelion's Sleeve –
And then – I started – too –

And He – He followed – close behind –
I felt His Silver Heel
Opon my Ancle – Then My Shoes
Would overflow with Pearl –

Until We met the Solid Town –
No One He seemed to know –
And bowing – with a Mighty look –
At me – The Sea withdrew –
….

“Wild nights - Wild nights!” Passion in her words!

Wild nights - Wild nights!
Were I with thee
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!

Futile - the winds -
To a Heart in port -
Done with the Compass -
Done with the Chart!

Rowing in Eden -
Ah - the Sea!
Might I but moor - tonight -
In thee!
..

“Because I could not stop for death.” (Wow)
..

“I felt a Funeral, in my Brain”. The title alone is worthy of multiple ‘stars’. Brilliant. One of my favourite poems.

“… And I, and Silence, some strange Race,
Wrecked, solitary, here -

And then a Plank in Reason, broke,
And I dropped down, and down -
And hit a World, at every plunge,
And Finished knowing – then …”
..

“I heard a fly buzz – when I died”. Something profoundly optimistic about her morbid anticipation of death, and afterlife.
..

“Tell all the truth but tell it slant-“. So much going on here. A woman of discernment and learner of painful life lessons.
..


“I dwell in Possibility”. Anticipation, imagination, refusal to quite.
..

“My Life had stood -- a Loaded Gun”. Profound fusion of gun and owner .. or (God) as Master and servant? Or man and lover?
..

“After great pain, a formal feeling comes”. Interesting observation.
..

[Milli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favourites:
Hope is the Thing with Feathers,
The Moon is Distant from the Sea,
A Train Went Through a Burial Gate,
If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking and
After Great Pain

[Liv Rawding · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good first time for reading her poetry I bought some more collections absolutely loved it :)