January 4, 2013
“Emily Dickinson” — Wendy Cope
“Emily Dickinson” by Wendy Cope:
Higgledy-piggledy
Emily Dickinson
Liked to use dashes
Instead of full stops.Nowadays, faced with such
Idiosyncrasy,
Critics and editors
Send for the cops.
November 19, 2012
Emily Dickinson’s Cocoanut Cake Recipe
Emily Dickinson’s recipe for cocoanut cake, via Tori Avey at the The History Kitchen. Avey’s post is great—she guides the reader through making the cake, includes photos of the process, and even pairs the recipe with an appropriate poem. And of course, she transcribes Dickinson’s scratchy notes:
Emily Dickinson’s Cocoanut Cake
1 cup cocoanut
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoonful soda
1 teaspoonful cream of tartarThis makes one half the rule–
October 30, 2012
“My life closed twice before its close” — Emily Dickinson
My life closed twice before its close—
It yet remains to see
If Immortality unveil
A third event to meSo huge, so hopeless to conceive
As these that twice befell.
Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell.
—Emily Dickinson.
October 20, 2012
“One need not be a Chamber–to be Haunted–” — Emily Dickinson
“One need not be a Chamber — to be Haunted –” by Emily Dickinson:
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 –
October 17, 2012
“I reason, Earth is short–” — Emily Dickinson
“I reason, Earth is short–” by Emily Dickinson:
I reason, Earth is short –
And Anguish — absolute –
And many hurt,
But, what of that?I reason, we could die –
The best Vitality
Cannot excel Decay,
But, what of that?I reason, that in Heaven –
Somehow, it will be even –
Some new Equation, given –
But, what of that?
April 17, 2012
“A Wounded Deer—leaps highest— ” — Emily Dickinson
A poem by Emily Dickinson:
A Wounded Deer—leaps highest—
I’ve heard the Hunter tell—
‘Tis but the Ecstasy of death—
And then the Brake is still!The Smitten Rock that gushes!
The trampled Steel that springs!
A Cheek is always redder
Just where the Hectic stings!Mirth is the Mail of Anguish
In which it Cautious Arm,
Lest anybody spy the blood
And “you’re hurt” exclaim!
February 18, 2012
“A Toad, can die of Light” — Emily Dickinson
“A Toad, can die of Light,” a poem by Emily Dickinson:
A Toad, can die of Light –
Death is the Common Right
Of Toads and Men –
Of Earl and Midge
The privilege –
Why swagger, then?
The Gnat’s supremacy is large as Thine –Life — is a different Thing –
So measure Wine –
Naked of Flask — Naked of Cask –
Bare Rhine –
Which Ruby’s mine
Said