Happy Birthday Emily

My not so secret obsession with Emily Dickinson started only in my mid thirties about ten years ago. One day, I decided to really read her works. I had read only a few of her poems. I knew I had to dive right in. I did.



I found a kindred spirit in her poems. A friend from across time through her poetry. I love a lot of her poems, so hard to find a few to share. Here are the ones I felt compelled to share with all of you.

Her love of nature:

(661)

Could I but ride indefinite
As doth the Meadow Bee
And visit only where I liked
And No one visit me

And flirt all Day with Buttercups
And marry whom I may
And dwell a little everywhere
Or better, run away

With no Police to follow
Or chase Him if He do
Till He should jump Peninsulas
To get away from me—

I said "But just to be a Bee"
Upon a Raft of Air
And row in Nowhere all Day long
And anchor "off the Bar"

What Liberty! So Captives deem
Who tight in Dungeons are.


Her strong spirit:

(1176)

We never know how high we are
Till we are called to rise;
And then, if we are true to plan,
Our statures touch the skies—

The Heroism we recite
Would be a daily thing,
Did not ourselves the Cubits warp
For fear to be a King—


And the passion of a deep love in her poems, that was or wasn't, running through her poems:

(211)

Come slowly – Eden!
Lips unused to Thee –
Bashful – sip thy Jessamines –
As the fainting Bee –

Reaching late his flower,
Round her chamber hums –
Counts his nectars –
Enters – and is lost in Balms.

I find comfort and inspiration in her poetry. I have the complete poems of Emily Dickinson. Please if you get her poems, read the ones that have all her lovely dashes in it! Emily wrote them like that for a reason. I prefer to read her natural not edited by others.


Happy Birthday Emily. I hope in that heaven of wildflowers, bees and butterflies, you know how much your poetry has meant to generations of people including me.