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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
I never particularly enjoyed Emily's poems in the past, but thought I would give this collection a go. I think I am persuaded! There are many (65, to be exact) poems here I found stunning. I was surprised at the amount of fresh, surprising turns of phrase, and at the instances of experimentation I found in what I always thought was strictly formal poetry. Not all the poems are winners, but it is impossible to know which poems she would have actually wanted published, had this collection come out in her lifetime. The pleasure in reading the whole smorgasbord, though, is deciphering her life--playing historian--through the poetry. Best of all, for me, were the Sufjan-Stevens-esque "is this about God, or is it Gay?" poems. I also loved all the nature writing, storm poems most of all. As is stated in the introduction of my copy, Emily seems to be a mystic, and I now think of her as a kindred spirit.
My Favorites:
I Started Early, Took My Dog
I Showed Her Heights She Never Saw
The Mushroom is the Elf of Plants
I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed
I Like to See it Lap the Miles
An Altered Look About the Hills
Blazing in Gold and Quenching in Purple
It Lifts from Leaden Sieves
Presentiment is that Long Shadow on the Lawn
She Slept Beneath a Tree
What Mystery Pervades a Well!
Could I But Ride Indefinite
The Moon was but a Chin of Gold
The Cricket Sang
I Cannot Live with You
Wild Nights! Wild Nights!
My Cocoon Tightens, Colors Tease
Except to Heaven, She is Nought
The Daisy Follows Soft the Sun
Death Sets a Thing Significant
I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died
One Sister Have I in our House
Ah, Teneriffe!
The Largest Fire Ever Known
A Cap of Lead ACross the Sky
On My Volcano Grows the Grass
To Pile Like Thunder to its Close
I Did Not Reach Thee
My Favorites:
I Started Early, Took My Dog
I Showed Her Heights She Never Saw
The Mushroom is the Elf of Plants
I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed
I Like to See it Lap the Miles
An Altered Look About the Hills
Blazing in Gold and Quenching in Purple
It Lifts from Leaden Sieves
Presentiment is that Long Shadow on the Lawn
She Slept Beneath a Tree
What Mystery Pervades a Well!
Could I But Ride Indefinite
The Moon was but a Chin of Gold
The Cricket Sang
I Cannot Live with You
Wild Nights! Wild Nights!
My Cocoon Tightens, Colors Tease
Except to Heaven, She is Nought
The Daisy Follows Soft the Sun
Death Sets a Thing Significant
I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died
One Sister Have I in our House
Ah, Teneriffe!
The Largest Fire Ever Known
A Cap of Lead ACross the Sky
On My Volcano Grows the Grass
To Pile Like Thunder to its Close
I Did Not Reach Thee
Emily Dickinson: the poster child for you never really know somebody, do you? She would have handled the COVID-19 quarantine era like a champ. Imagine being her roommate? Keeps to herself AND bakes for her friends? Sign me the fuck up.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Great drinking game: listen to someone reading Emily Dickinson, and take a shot every time you hear the word eternity.
Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson (1988)
Utterly brilliant.
Although it's marked by time - and what really isn't? - in a way which isn't my marred, modern cup of tea, the sheer potency of Dickinson's language, rhythm, coinage of words and non-rhymes win me over completely, and take me to another level totally.
I shan't say more on the poetry itself, but the imagery painted is sharp, veering from "the usual" in a way that has lived for more than a hundred years and will continue living forever, I'm sure.
While this collection does not contain all of her poems, it is annotated with short sentences on names, places and references, e.g. to passages from the christian bible and other poets.
This collection's only real flaw: it's too short.
Although it's marked by time - and what really isn't? - in a way which isn't my marred, modern cup of tea, the sheer potency of Dickinson's language, rhythm, coinage of words and non-rhymes win me over completely, and take me to another level totally.
I shan't say more on the poetry itself, but the imagery painted is sharp, veering from "the usual" in a way that has lived for more than a hundred years and will continue living forever, I'm sure.
While this collection does not contain all of her poems, it is annotated with short sentences on names, places and references, e.g. to passages from the christian bible and other poets.
This collection's only real flaw: it's too short.
This was my first time reading Emily Dickinson. I've heard a lot about her, of course, and found that, like many others, I loved her poetry.
Her writing and style are unusual and spellbinding, the atmosphere - serene, ethereal, full of musing and silence, the themes - nature, death, spirituality. Most of the poems I read out loud multiple times before moving on to the next one, and most I wanted to bookmark.
I'm currently reading [b:Emily Dickinson: Letters|10663397|Emily Dickinson Letters|Emily Dickinson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320547715s/10663397.jpg|404505], and plan to read another collection of Dickinson's poems I own after this.
Outstanding and an instant favorite.
Most of Emily Dickinson's stuff is, for me, way too weird and cerebral and lofty for my primitive meaty primate brain to comprehend. However, during the few occasions when I can comprehend her, I am taken aback in awe of this woman who, in spite of having lived as a virtual shut-in for most of her life, somehow managed to touch upon some life's greatest mysteries with such quiet and pointed wisdom.
Also incredibly interesting are two contrasting poems about hope. The former being the famous "Hope is the thing with feathers" poem, and the latter, the not nearly as famous "Hope is a subtle glutton". If my guess is correct, and Hope Feathers was written before Hope Glutton, then this is at least indicative of quite a cynical turn in Dickinson's outlook on life. Again, interesting...
Also incredibly interesting are two contrasting poems about hope. The former being the famous "Hope is the thing with feathers" poem, and the latter, the not nearly as famous "Hope is a subtle glutton". If my guess is correct, and Hope Feathers was written before Hope Glutton, then this is at least indicative of quite a cynical turn in Dickinson's outlook on life. Again, interesting...
I didn't like it and I'm very upset about that. See I've heard a lot about Emily Dickinson but had only read "Hope is a thing with feathers" before. Now I came with the expectation of greatness and despite the ridiculous amount of poems this woman has written I could barely find one I really liked and connected with. (Okay I'm exaggerating but I can count them on the fingers of one hand). On paper it stands the reason that I would love her work. See her main themes are god, bees, flowers, death and how much she dislikes the company of other people but also discusses loneliness at length, so what's there not to love about that ? It screamed my name!
And yet nothing, none of it stuck with me, I especially don't like her very peculiar sense of rhythm. But oh well, I can still admire her for how much she left behind, for her dedication to her art. This review is not to say that her writing skills are poor, I have no authority to declare that anyway but I don't think it either. It's just not for me.
3 stars for the sheer admiration I still have for the woman.
And yet nothing, none of it stuck with me, I especially don't like her very peculiar sense of rhythm. But oh well, I can still admire her for how much she left behind, for her dedication to her art. This review is not to say that her writing skills are poor, I have no authority to declare that anyway but I don't think it either. It's just not for me.
3 stars for the sheer admiration I still have for the woman.