What do you think?
Rate this book
Selected Poems & Letters of Emily Dickinson
This Anchor edition includes both poems and letters, as well as the only contemporary description of Emily Dickinson, and is designed for readers who want the best poems and most interesting letters in convenient form. An excellent introduction to the work of a poet whose originality of thought remains unsurpassed in American poetry.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1959
About the author
Emily Dickinson
1,584 books6,967 followersEmily Dickinson was an American poet who, despite the fact that less than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime, is widely considered one of the most original and influential poets of the 19th century.
Dickinson was born to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life. After she studied at the Amherst Academy for seven years in her youth, she spent a short time at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before returning to her family's house in Amherst. Thought of as an eccentric by the locals, she became known for her penchant for white clothing and her reluctance to greet guests or, later in life, even leave her room. Most of her friendships were therefore carried out by correspondence.
Although Dickinson was a prolific private poet, fewer than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime.The work that was published during her lifetime was usually altered significantly by the publishers to fit the conventional poetic rules of the time. Dickinson's poems are unique for the era in which she wrote; they contain short lines, typically lack titles, and often use slant rhyme as well as unconventional capitalization and punctuation.Many of her poems deal with themes of death and immortality, two recurring topics in letters to her friends.
Although most of her acquaintances were probably aware of Dickinson's writing, it was not until after her death in 1886—when Lavinia, Emily's younger sister, discovered her cache of poems—that the breadth of Dickinson's work became apparent. Her first collection of poetry was published in 1890 by personal acquaintances Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Mabel Loomis Todd, both of whom heavily edited the content.
A complete and mostly unaltered collection of her poetry became available for the first time in 1955 when The Poems of Emily Dickinson was published by scholar Thomas H. Johnson. Despite unfavorable reviews and skepticism of her literary prowess during the late 19th and early 20th century, critics now consider Dickinson to be a major American poet.
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/emily-di...
Dickinson was born to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life. After she studied at the Amherst Academy for seven years in her youth, she spent a short time at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before returning to her family's house in Amherst. Thought of as an eccentric by the locals, she became known for her penchant for white clothing and her reluctance to greet guests or, later in life, even leave her room. Most of her friendships were therefore carried out by correspondence.
Although Dickinson was a prolific private poet, fewer than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime.The work that was published during her lifetime was usually altered significantly by the publishers to fit the conventional poetic rules of the time. Dickinson's poems are unique for the era in which she wrote; they contain short lines, typically lack titles, and often use slant rhyme as well as unconventional capitalization and punctuation.Many of her poems deal with themes of death and immortality, two recurring topics in letters to her friends.
Although most of her acquaintances were probably aware of Dickinson's writing, it was not until after her death in 1886—when Lavinia, Emily's younger sister, discovered her cache of poems—that the breadth of Dickinson's work became apparent. Her first collection of poetry was published in 1890 by personal acquaintances Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Mabel Loomis Todd, both of whom heavily edited the content.
A complete and mostly unaltered collection of her poetry became available for the first time in 1955 when The Poems of Emily Dickinson was published by scholar Thomas H. Johnson. Despite unfavorable reviews and skepticism of her literary prowess during the late 19th and early 20th century, critics now consider Dickinson to be a major American poet.
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/emily-di...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
October 22, 2019
One of my favourite . Who can let the reader dreams within the words.
June 27, 2017
Upon one’s first experience reading the poems of Emily Dickinson, it is easy to label the reclusive author’s works as being purely introspective accounts of her daily life. However, not many recognize the strong themes of social resistance that are hidden just below the surface in much of Dickinson’s poetry. She often includes symbols that signify female oppression as wells as allusions to her frustration at living in a male-dominated society. By studying Dickinson’s work in-depth, it is possible for the reader to gain an understanding of Dickinson as one of America’s first woman advocates of free-thinking as well as a promoter of feminist rights.
By gaining knowledge about the culture in which Dickinson lived, it is possible for the reader to gain a new perspective on her poetry. Indeed, feminist references can be found in almost every one of her poems if examined closely. Through creative use of language, Dickinson expresses her frustration with her situation, and asserts her beliefs that an afterlife is uncertain and that one should work to find happiness here on earth. She also reveals her stance that women should not be afraid to care about nurturing their own individual souls outside of the church’s official doctrine.
In “To Flee from Memory” Dickinson makes a powerful statement about the suffering that women endure, and her desire for change. She begins with an allusion to the stifling society she lives in, “To flee from memory/Had we the Wings/Many would fly/Inured to slower things/Birds with dismay”. Dickinson seems to be lamenting her role as a woman. She compares herself to a bird without “Wings” that is forever land-bound and is desperately seeking the freedom of the open sky. She comments that women are “inured” by men to accept what society sees as an acceptable role for them. In the last stanza, she seems to stress the importance that in order to evoke change men must “escap[e]/From the mind of man”. Dickinson perhaps deliberately separates the two meanings of “man” here. The first pertains to men as individuals who are “cowering” in the face of a new way of thinking and the second makes “man” synonymous with “society”. Only when men have forgotten traditional religious and historical teachings can society move forward. At the present, however, all the misery that women willingly endure hinges on their belief in the Calvinist teaching that in heaven they will finally gain their “Wings”.
Dickinson explores this opinion further in “Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church”. Just as in “To Flee from Memory”, references are made to Calvinist belief systems and the church’s overwhelming focus on the afterlife. This poem, however, does not focus so much on deriding the church’s teachings, but rather explores how women can find divinity in nature that is just as wondrous as that which they would encounter in heaven. By looking around at God’s creation, Dickinson devises new concepts of worship that do not include the following of Calvinist doctrine. Her full thoughts on organized religion are disclosed in the second stanza of the poem where she writes, “Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice--/I just wear my Wings”. Like “Memory”, the mention of “Wings” could be a symbol for personal freedom. When Dickinson is alone in nature, she is able to create a personal connection with God and does not feel pressured to conform to a chauvinist society. In this environment, she is able to proudly “wear [her] wings” with no fear of retribution from others.
Dickinson entrances her reader with cheerful descriptions of birds and trees which keep the poem from becoming too dreary, yet she does not let anyone forget her true intent. She closes “Sabbath” with the line “Instead of getting to Heaven, at last--/I’m going, all along”. Her skepticism of the existence of an afterlife is perfectly clear here, but a notable accomplishment on Dickinson’s part is how she manages to convey her disapproval of the Calvinist doctrine without distancing herself from God. By questioning her religion, yet refusing to demonize the church, Dickinson opens up her work to a wider, mostly female audience who might be afraid of God’s wrath if they choose to liberate themselves. She shows it is possible to enjoy a solitary divine experience, and that God invites everyone, (even women), to enjoy his creation and bask in their individuality on a daily basis.
The fact that Dickinson’s works were published post-mortem did not in any way diminish the profound impact that Emily Dickinson has had on future generations of American poets, both women and men. Although our modern American culture often encourages us to admire those who are extroverted and are not afraid to voice their opinions, it is important for us not to dismiss Emily Dickinson due to her introversion. Conversely, she is the true embodiment of the American revolutionary spirit. Dickinson did not sacrifice her ideals for anyone, and rejected accepted thought patterns in favor of a new radical approach ultimately bettered the way women were viewed in society.
By gaining knowledge about the culture in which Dickinson lived, it is possible for the reader to gain a new perspective on her poetry. Indeed, feminist references can be found in almost every one of her poems if examined closely. Through creative use of language, Dickinson expresses her frustration with her situation, and asserts her beliefs that an afterlife is uncertain and that one should work to find happiness here on earth. She also reveals her stance that women should not be afraid to care about nurturing their own individual souls outside of the church’s official doctrine.
In “To Flee from Memory” Dickinson makes a powerful statement about the suffering that women endure, and her desire for change. She begins with an allusion to the stifling society she lives in, “To flee from memory/Had we the Wings/Many would fly/Inured to slower things/Birds with dismay”. Dickinson seems to be lamenting her role as a woman. She compares herself to a bird without “Wings” that is forever land-bound and is desperately seeking the freedom of the open sky. She comments that women are “inured” by men to accept what society sees as an acceptable role for them. In the last stanza, she seems to stress the importance that in order to evoke change men must “escap[e]/From the mind of man”. Dickinson perhaps deliberately separates the two meanings of “man” here. The first pertains to men as individuals who are “cowering” in the face of a new way of thinking and the second makes “man” synonymous with “society”. Only when men have forgotten traditional religious and historical teachings can society move forward. At the present, however, all the misery that women willingly endure hinges on their belief in the Calvinist teaching that in heaven they will finally gain their “Wings”.
Dickinson explores this opinion further in “Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church”. Just as in “To Flee from Memory”, references are made to Calvinist belief systems and the church’s overwhelming focus on the afterlife. This poem, however, does not focus so much on deriding the church’s teachings, but rather explores how women can find divinity in nature that is just as wondrous as that which they would encounter in heaven. By looking around at God’s creation, Dickinson devises new concepts of worship that do not include the following of Calvinist doctrine. Her full thoughts on organized religion are disclosed in the second stanza of the poem where she writes, “Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice--/I just wear my Wings”. Like “Memory”, the mention of “Wings” could be a symbol for personal freedom. When Dickinson is alone in nature, she is able to create a personal connection with God and does not feel pressured to conform to a chauvinist society. In this environment, she is able to proudly “wear [her] wings” with no fear of retribution from others.
Dickinson entrances her reader with cheerful descriptions of birds and trees which keep the poem from becoming too dreary, yet she does not let anyone forget her true intent. She closes “Sabbath” with the line “Instead of getting to Heaven, at last--/I’m going, all along”. Her skepticism of the existence of an afterlife is perfectly clear here, but a notable accomplishment on Dickinson’s part is how she manages to convey her disapproval of the Calvinist doctrine without distancing herself from God. By questioning her religion, yet refusing to demonize the church, Dickinson opens up her work to a wider, mostly female audience who might be afraid of God’s wrath if they choose to liberate themselves. She shows it is possible to enjoy a solitary divine experience, and that God invites everyone, (even women), to enjoy his creation and bask in their individuality on a daily basis.
The fact that Dickinson’s works were published post-mortem did not in any way diminish the profound impact that Emily Dickinson has had on future generations of American poets, both women and men. Although our modern American culture often encourages us to admire those who are extroverted and are not afraid to voice their opinions, it is important for us not to dismiss Emily Dickinson due to her introversion. Conversely, she is the true embodiment of the American revolutionary spirit. Dickinson did not sacrifice her ideals for anyone, and rejected accepted thought patterns in favor of a new radical approach ultimately bettered the way women were viewed in society.
July 7, 2022
4,5 stars - English hardcover
What claims can a 50-year old edition of "Selected Poems of Emily Dickinson" have on the attention of readers with access to other books on the poet and other editions, some acclaimed highly?
Despite the claims of other editions, this remains one of my most beloved books on and by Emily Dickinson, although it is not without its limitations. It has gotten scarce shelf space because included in one, easy-to-carry book are three significant aspects of this cherished poet. These are
Thomas Wentworth Higginson's account of "his correspondence with the poet and his visit with her in Amherst" is given first.
Higginson, among many other things, was in 1862 a Unitarian clergyman and "rising young man of letters" when he published an essay in The Atlantic encouraging young poets. Over his doorstep came the blaze of a thousand suns, a packet of unique poems and a letter from a young poet, asking if "my verse is alive."
Over 20 years, they corresponded & eventually, Higginson became one of the few people outside the family who actually met Emily Dickinson and wrote about it.
Two hundred pages of Dickinson's poems are offered, selected by Editor Robert N. Linscott as "among the best" of her work.
His choice includes many beautiful -and-familiar poems and many poems unknown-to-me until I read them here. Some, using Dickinson's words, immediately "make the hair on my head stand on end".
Her way of knowing poetry. Some were fascinating but to-me more obscure initially. All have a wild magic, and Linscott did his work well.
The third benefit of this edition is a precursor to such biographical riches: a selection of letters from Emily from her school-girl years to May 14, 1888. This was the day before she died, when she wrote, "Little cousins Called Back Emily"
Two further claims on our attention are the cover by acclaimed artist Leonard Baskin and the typography by Edward Gorey. Linscott also provides a helpful index of first lines.
Dickinson did not title her poems. Linscott admirably does not use the first lines as titles; he prints the poems, untitled, as they were written.
More poems keep getting discovered including a recent trove written on the backs of opened envelopes. And in 50 years, there's been much additional scholarship including a complete edition of her letters.
My collection, proberbly will grow more.
What claims can a 50-year old edition of "Selected Poems of Emily Dickinson" have on the attention of readers with access to other books on the poet and other editions, some acclaimed highly?
Despite the claims of other editions, this remains one of my most beloved books on and by Emily Dickinson, although it is not without its limitations. It has gotten scarce shelf space because included in one, easy-to-carry book are three significant aspects of this cherished poet. These are
Thomas Wentworth Higginson's account of "his correspondence with the poet and his visit with her in Amherst" is given first.
Higginson, among many other things, was in 1862 a Unitarian clergyman and "rising young man of letters" when he published an essay in The Atlantic encouraging young poets. Over his doorstep came the blaze of a thousand suns, a packet of unique poems and a letter from a young poet, asking if "my verse is alive."
Over 20 years, they corresponded & eventually, Higginson became one of the few people outside the family who actually met Emily Dickinson and wrote about it.
Two hundred pages of Dickinson's poems are offered, selected by Editor Robert N. Linscott as "among the best" of her work.
His choice includes many beautiful -and-familiar poems and many poems unknown-to-me until I read them here. Some, using Dickinson's words, immediately "make the hair on my head stand on end".
Her way of knowing poetry. Some were fascinating but to-me more obscure initially. All have a wild magic, and Linscott did his work well.
The third benefit of this edition is a precursor to such biographical riches: a selection of letters from Emily from her school-girl years to May 14, 1888. This was the day before she died, when she wrote, "Little cousins Called Back Emily"
Two further claims on our attention are the cover by acclaimed artist Leonard Baskin and the typography by Edward Gorey. Linscott also provides a helpful index of first lines.
Dickinson did not title her poems. Linscott admirably does not use the first lines as titles; he prints the poems, untitled, as they were written.
More poems keep getting discovered including a recent trove written on the backs of opened envelopes. And in 50 years, there's been much additional scholarship including a complete edition of her letters.
My collection, proberbly will grow more.
November 28, 2021
My life closed twice before its close—
It yet remains to see
If Immortality unveil
A third event to me
So huge, so hopeless to conceive
As these that twice befell.
Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell.
It yet remains to see
If Immortality unveil
A third event to me
So huge, so hopeless to conceive
As these that twice befell.
Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell.
June 3, 2013
Bees and calvary.
I wanted to like this more than I did. The poems are short and sharp. The language plain -- understandable on the surface at least, by anyone who speaks English and can think. You don't even need access to a dictionary. And on top of that, she isn't squarely on the university list of "to read" poets (or wasn't when I was at university). In these ways, I have always thought she had a place somewhat akin to, say, Dylan Thomas, or maybe Frost.
And yet, mostly these poems left me feeling a bit cold. I rarely felt moved. More frequently, I was struck by something as being clever or well put. But that's not what I look for in a poem. And for whatever reason, these poems didn't hit me on a deeper level.
I wanted to like this more than I did. The poems are short and sharp. The language plain -- understandable on the surface at least, by anyone who speaks English and can think. You don't even need access to a dictionary. And on top of that, she isn't squarely on the university list of "to read" poets (or wasn't when I was at university). In these ways, I have always thought she had a place somewhat akin to, say, Dylan Thomas, or maybe Frost.
And yet, mostly these poems left me feeling a bit cold. I rarely felt moved. More frequently, I was struck by something as being clever or well put. But that's not what I look for in a poem. And for whatever reason, these poems didn't hit me on a deeper level.
March 19, 2024
A great introductory text to Dickinson's work. However, though unsurprising considering the date of this edition, it is a literal crime that they didn't include a single letter between her and Sue!
September 13, 2024
If "poetry is language in its most distilled and powerful form," then there are few poets who can pack so much into so little space as Emily Dickinson.
I have to admit that my previous contact with Dickinson has been through poetry anthologies, and it was a bit overwhelming to see hundreds of her poems in one place. Ten poems was the absolute limit that I could read per day since they require so much concentration to decipher their obscure meanings. (I was not always successful).
But even when the meaning of a poem was not clear, the stunning wordplay and imagery are reward enough.
Interestingly, the 100 pages of letters in the appendix were just as whimsical and enigmatic as the poems. I gave up on those at the halfway point.
I have to admit that my previous contact with Dickinson has been through poetry anthologies, and it was a bit overwhelming to see hundreds of her poems in one place. Ten poems was the absolute limit that I could read per day since they require so much concentration to decipher their obscure meanings. (I was not always successful).
But even when the meaning of a poem was not clear, the stunning wordplay and imagery are reward enough.
Interestingly, the 100 pages of letters in the appendix were just as whimsical and enigmatic as the poems. I gave up on those at the halfway point.
September 10, 2024
DNF 51 pages in, wanted to like it but it was a bit too nonsensical and abstract for me.
Read
June 1, 2024I see a lot of myself in her. It actually kind of hurts.
Some of her words that will never leave me:
"Hope is the thing with feathers...cont."
"Bring me the sunset in a cup"
"Fame is a fickle food"
"Pain has an element of blank; it cannot recollect. When it began or if there were... A day when it was not."
"Because I could not stop for death, he kindly stopped for me."
Initial update: I've concluded that when I am reading Dickinson and excitedly think: "This poem is one of my favorites!" It's usually just because I understood it, and picked it out as comprehensible among a sea of inscrutable verses. AKA Her language is no joke!
Some of her words that will never leave me:
"Hope is the thing with feathers...cont."
"Bring me the sunset in a cup"
"Fame is a fickle food"
"Pain has an element of blank; it cannot recollect. When it began or if there were... A day when it was not."
"Because I could not stop for death, he kindly stopped for me."
Initial update: I've concluded that when I am reading Dickinson and excitedly think: "This poem is one of my favorites!" It's usually just because I understood it, and picked it out as comprehensible among a sea of inscrutable verses. AKA Her language is no joke!
September 5, 2024
where is the lesbianism...
September 11, 2022
“The frogs sing sweet today—they have such pretty, lazy times—how nice to be a frog!”
PLEASE BE ADVISED Dickinson’s super-famous poems pale in comparison to the imagination and genius of many of her others.
PLEASE BE ADVISED Dickinson’s super-famous poems pale in comparison to the imagination and genius of many of her others.
April 12, 2024
In addition to her poetry, this includes introductory material and an article from Thomas Wentworth Higginson, who published about Dickinson in her time. At the back are a significant number of letters between Dickinson and her family and friends.
Some of my favorites:
"Hope is the thing with feathers"
"I can wade Grief"
"Pain has an element of blank"
"Afraid! Of whom am I afraid?"
"Unto my Books--so good to turn"
"A precious mouldering pleasure 'tis"
"A thought went up my mind to-day"
Some of my favorites:
"Hope is the thing with feathers"
"I can wade Grief"
"Pain has an element of blank"
"Afraid! Of whom am I afraid?"
"Unto my Books--so good to turn"
"A precious mouldering pleasure 'tis"
"A thought went up my mind to-day"
July 13, 2018
This collection was my first exposure to Emily Dickinson's writing. While the poems were a bit hit-and-miss for me personally (many were repetitive), I found some gems among them and certainly appreciate her place as one of America's great poets, through her sheer creativity and unique analogies alone.
I actually enjoyed the letters more, finding in them many new glimpses of 19th-century life, particularly from Emily's perspective as a New England woman. The change in her letters - from the bubbly excitement of a would-be socialite, to the melancholy enigma of her later years - is something I would like to learn more about. Evidently the deaths of loved ones brought some trauma to her life, and it may be she also suffered from depression and/or mental health issues. I shared some of the most memorable quotes in my blog post, Emily Dickinson in 10 Quotes.
I also recommend checking out the Emily Dickinson Museum website. It has a ton of information to contextualize and clarify the letters for the modern reader.
I actually enjoyed the letters more, finding in them many new glimpses of 19th-century life, particularly from Emily's perspective as a New England woman. The change in her letters - from the bubbly excitement of a would-be socialite, to the melancholy enigma of her later years - is something I would like to learn more about. Evidently the deaths of loved ones brought some trauma to her life, and it may be she also suffered from depression and/or mental health issues. I shared some of the most memorable quotes in my blog post, Emily Dickinson in 10 Quotes.
I also recommend checking out the Emily Dickinson Museum website. It has a ton of information to contextualize and clarify the letters for the modern reader.
February 13, 2013
Her poems cut with the honesty of a child and the experience of woman beyond her years.
I wish this edition did not correct her grammar. I think grammar, especially in poetry is just as telling and revealing.
I wish this edition did not correct her grammar. I think grammar, especially in poetry is just as telling and revealing.
April 27, 2013
Love the cover on this book--she looks so MEAN. It appears to me she had a sharp little wit that she mercilessly quelled. Possibly this is what the cover artist was thinking of.
November 23, 2016
She is a true talent. Fucking amazing stuff.
June 1, 2023
So lovely and enigmatic and wonderful and psychological and strange. The only thing I didn’t enjoy about this was how heavily edited the poems were — all of the grammatical idiosyncrasies that make her poems so delightful and puzzling were, for whatever reason, chucked.
“While I was fearing it, it came,
But came with less of fear,
Because that fearing it so long
Had almost made it dear.
There is a fitting a dismay,
A fitting a despair.
‘Tis harder knowing it is due,
Than knowing it is here.
The trying on the utmost,
The morning it is new,
Is terribler than wearing it
A whole existence through.”
“Love is anterior to life,
Posterior to death,
Initial of creation, and
The exponent of breath.”
“I many times thought peace had come,
When peace was far away;
As wrecked men deem they sight the land
At centre of the sea,
And struggle slacker, but to prove,
As hopelessly as I,
How many the fictitious shores
Before the harbor lie.”
“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 an interior confronting
That whiter host.
Far safer through an Abbey gallop,
The stones achase,
Than, moonless, one’s own self encounter
In lonesome place.
Ourself, behind ourself concealed,
Should startle most;
Assassin, hid in our apartment,
Be horror’s least.
The prudent carries a revolver,
He bolts the door,
O’erlooking a superior spectre
More near.”
“The heart asks pleasure first,
And then, excuse from pain;
And then, those little anodynes
That deaden suffering;
And then, to go to sleep;
And then, if it should be,
The will of its Inquisitor,
The liberty to die.”
And one of my absolute favorites in its original form:
“Safe in their Alabaster Chambers —
Untouched by Morning —
and untouched by noon —
Sleep the meek members of the Resurrection,
Rafter of Satin and Roof of Stone —
Grand go the Years,
In the Crescent above them —
Worlds scoop their Arcs —
and Firmaments — row —
Diadems — drop —
And Doges surrender —
Soundless as Dots,
On a Disk of Snow.
“While I was fearing it, it came,
But came with less of fear,
Because that fearing it so long
Had almost made it dear.
There is a fitting a dismay,
A fitting a despair.
‘Tis harder knowing it is due,
Than knowing it is here.
The trying on the utmost,
The morning it is new,
Is terribler than wearing it
A whole existence through.”
“Love is anterior to life,
Posterior to death,
Initial of creation, and
The exponent of breath.”
“I many times thought peace had come,
When peace was far away;
As wrecked men deem they sight the land
At centre of the sea,
And struggle slacker, but to prove,
As hopelessly as I,
How many the fictitious shores
Before the harbor lie.”
“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 an interior confronting
That whiter host.
Far safer through an Abbey gallop,
The stones achase,
Than, moonless, one’s own self encounter
In lonesome place.
Ourself, behind ourself concealed,
Should startle most;
Assassin, hid in our apartment,
Be horror’s least.
The prudent carries a revolver,
He bolts the door,
O’erlooking a superior spectre
More near.”
“The heart asks pleasure first,
And then, excuse from pain;
And then, those little anodynes
That deaden suffering;
And then, to go to sleep;
And then, if it should be,
The will of its Inquisitor,
The liberty to die.”
And one of my absolute favorites in its original form:
“Safe in their Alabaster Chambers —
Untouched by Morning —
and untouched by noon —
Sleep the meek members of the Resurrection,
Rafter of Satin and Roof of Stone —
Grand go the Years,
In the Crescent above them —
Worlds scoop their Arcs —
and Firmaments — row —
Diadems — drop —
And Doges surrender —
Soundless as Dots,
On a Disk of Snow.
February 1, 2025
The actual book I read was a book of selected poems printed and sold by the Emily Dickinson Museum, which of course Goodreads doesn't have in their database.
A personal goal of mine is to read poetry every day in 2025. I started with Emily, because, well, the first poem I ever read that moved me to want to write it down at the ripe age of 14 was her 'Hope is the thing with feathers" The first stanza was enough to convince me that poets had an inside track to communicating ideas lyrically, a track I didn't have the chops for, but loved:
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
So, when I declared 2025 my year of poetry, I started with dear, sweet Emily, she of the insightful words, the lover of nature and a spiritual but not religious soul.
The book was broken into themes. Love, Death, Nature, etc., since she did not title her poems. "Because I could not stop for death," "I'm Nobody, who are you?" and "Wild Nights" were the only poems I recognized. Quite a few of her poems flew past me: whether it was the stilted nature of the mid-19th century language or use of words that have changed meaning, I was confused at what they were really about. The language was still lyrical, and certain phrases found a place in my poetry journal, but overall I felt out of my depth. But that's ok. I still gave it 5 stars, because, well, she was prolific and didn't hesitate to translate every single aspect of her life into words. And I appreciate her passion.
A personal goal of mine is to read poetry every day in 2025. I started with Emily, because, well, the first poem I ever read that moved me to want to write it down at the ripe age of 14 was her 'Hope is the thing with feathers" The first stanza was enough to convince me that poets had an inside track to communicating ideas lyrically, a track I didn't have the chops for, but loved:
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
So, when I declared 2025 my year of poetry, I started with dear, sweet Emily, she of the insightful words, the lover of nature and a spiritual but not religious soul.
The book was broken into themes. Love, Death, Nature, etc., since she did not title her poems. "Because I could not stop for death," "I'm Nobody, who are you?" and "Wild Nights" were the only poems I recognized. Quite a few of her poems flew past me: whether it was the stilted nature of the mid-19th century language or use of words that have changed meaning, I was confused at what they were really about. The language was still lyrical, and certain phrases found a place in my poetry journal, but overall I felt out of my depth. But that's ok. I still gave it 5 stars, because, well, she was prolific and didn't hesitate to translate every single aspect of her life into words. And I appreciate her passion.
March 1, 2022
Nearly five years later, this book is leaving my pile of current reads and heading back to the shelf from whence it came. I wanted to see if I could learn to enjoy poetry by reading Emily Dickinson, with mixed results. Snippets of some of the poems struck deep for me, and I found many of those pretty kinds of quotes that make it into collections and get used on greeting cards and email signatures and such. But many of the poems lost me entirely, the focus on Death was oppressive, and I had trouble reading more than a page or two (3-5 poems, usually one of which I liked) in one sitting. Maybe poetry is better read this way, or maybe I need more practice. The letters might be more discernible to those who have studied Dickinson and know more about her life, family, and network of friends. Some of them are funny, some come across as quite flirtatious, and many give the impression that poor Emily was desperate for visits and responses from those she wrote. They remind me of the notes we passed in middle school with "P.S. Write back VERY soon!!!" at the end.
I think I see some glimpses of why Dickinson is so revered today, because it seems like her writing can become so many different things for different people, a mirror for reflection.
I think I see some glimpses of why Dickinson is so revered today, because it seems like her writing can become so many different things for different people, a mirror for reflection.
July 1, 2021
My first introduction into poetry. I was always fascinated by the beauty of poetry and when I was 13 I remember how I had a phase where I was only writing poems to feel better, yet I never really read poetry myself.
Now that I read this book, I can already tell that I will keep on reading poetry. It was...beautiful. I honestly don't think there is a word more fitting than 'beautiful' to describe the poems of Emily Dickenson. They were extremely beautiful and I took like over 50 photos of poems that i liked.
I gave it four stars, because english is not my first language and because of that, it was harder to read. Emily used some beautiful yet hard and unknown words. And because of that, it made it much harder for me to understand the context and message of her poems or like to read them in the first place. But as I said before; I loved the ones that I read. They were beautiful and because of that I had to give it four stars.
Overall I really enjoyed this. I'm definitely looking forward to read more poetry in the future. 'I had a Guinea Golden', 'The last thought', 'A word' and 'Charlotte Brontë's Grave' were my favorite poems!
Now that I read this book, I can already tell that I will keep on reading poetry. It was...beautiful. I honestly don't think there is a word more fitting than 'beautiful' to describe the poems of Emily Dickenson. They were extremely beautiful and I took like over 50 photos of poems that i liked.
I gave it four stars, because english is not my first language and because of that, it was harder to read. Emily used some beautiful yet hard and unknown words. And because of that, it made it much harder for me to understand the context and message of her poems or like to read them in the first place. But as I said before; I loved the ones that I read. They were beautiful and because of that I had to give it four stars.
Overall I really enjoyed this. I'm definitely looking forward to read more poetry in the future. 'I had a Guinea Golden', 'The last thought', 'A word' and 'Charlotte Brontë's Grave' were my favorite poems!
March 24, 2020
A wonderful collection of Dickinson's work for the casual reader. I say "casual", but Dickinson's signature style-- spartan, incisive, at times imaginative to the point of opacity--will always require careful attention from the reader. Reading this collection in the midst ofa global pandemic has been a particularly interesting experience. Being largely confined to home myself (and resentful of that "hardship") highlights how truly eccentric Dickinson was, and how her incredibly deep love for family, friends, and nature carried her through whatever illness physical and/or mental that prevented her from having a more traditional life.
For those looking for more poetry in a similar style, I recommend the haiku of Issa. Although Dickinson's poetry does not follow the rigid format of haiku, it carries the spirit of it: creating vivid word pictures of nature, and often concluding the poem with a humorous or insightful twist that turns the reader's understanding of the poem on its head.
For those looking for more poetry in a similar style, I recommend the haiku of Issa. Although Dickinson's poetry does not follow the rigid format of haiku, it carries the spirit of it: creating vivid word pictures of nature, and often concluding the poem with a humorous or insightful twist that turns the reader's understanding of the poem on its head.
July 4, 2018
I have owned this book for several years, and I've read and re-read the poems over and over. However, I never actually read the collection of her letters. They read like the best 19th century literature. Emily's letters to her various family and friends paint the portrait of a life devoted to the love she has for her friends, her delight in every flower and small creature in her gardens, and her spiritual musings and questioning.
From the first letters as a curious school girl to the last letter on the day before her death, bearing only two words "Called Home"; this collection gave me the feeling of time travel and looking down at her life and inner thoughts from above. I wish I could time travel and sit and have tea with Emily, and talk about her "bees, and frogs, and birds, and flowers" for hours.
From the first letters as a curious school girl to the last letter on the day before her death, bearing only two words "Called Home"; this collection gave me the feeling of time travel and looking down at her life and inner thoughts from above. I wish I could time travel and sit and have tea with Emily, and talk about her "bees, and frogs, and birds, and flowers" for hours.
December 2, 2024
The poems are so beautifully written, but I have to really spend time with them to really take them in fully. The collection of letters was my favorite part of this book. It makes me want to write letters to my friends and family with such flowery wording….and to receive letters like them, as well!
I gave it 4 stars, instead of 5, only because it was so deep that it took such a long time to read through it without feeling like I was just checking it off a list. I think this is a collection that should be read slowly-one or two poems at a time.
I gave it 4 stars, instead of 5, only because it was so deep that it took such a long time to read through it without feeling like I was just checking it off a list. I think this is a collection that should be read slowly-one or two poems at a time.
August 3, 2021
I’ve read Emily Dickinson’s poems here and there, but this was the first official book of hers I’ve read straight through. It was nice and calming to listen while drifting off to sleep every night. I can’t say I’m personally touched by her poetry, but I did find her letters interesting and a great glimpses into 19th-century New England life, especially as a woman.
October 17, 2019
This book provides an excellent overview of Emily's life and career. It also contains "the best of her poetry and the most interesting of her letters" according to the editor. Interestingly, the majority of her poems were published posthumously.
February 16, 2020
5 stars for Emily, always — this version includes poems edited for conventional spelling and punctuation, not as she wrote them, and heavily abridged letters, rather than a full collection. A good starter collection, but not the real deal.
June 22, 2022
“if i read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can ever warm me, i know that is poetry. if i feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, i know that is poetry. these are the only ways i know it. is there any other way?”
Read
December 8, 2017" …and I am out with lanterns, looking for myself." - Emily Dickinson
July 12, 2020
I just read the poems because I had no interest in reading letters, but I actually really enjoyed them.
January 4, 2022
A most beautiful start to the year. I feel like crying tears of joy for some reason. Loved spending 2 weeks with E. Dickinson :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews