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March 16, 2007
Seasonal Affective Disorder: Poetry Friday
THERE’S a certain slant of light,
On winter afternoons,
That oppresses, like the weight
Of cathedral tunes.
Heavenly hurt it gives us;
We can find no scar,
But internal difference
Where the meanings are.
None may teach it anything,
’T is the seal, despair,—
An imperial affliction
Sent us of the air.
When it comes, the landscape listens,
Shadows hold their breath;
When it goes, ’t is like the distance
On the look of death.
-Emily Dickinson
I thought I'd post something by Emily in honor of my visit to her home last weekend. I wish we could have taken photos inside the houses (hers and her brother's), but -- alas! -- they would not let us.
It's cloudy here today, but it's not winter anymore. I've heard songbirds every morning for a week, the geese are doing their thing, the pussy willows are coming out, the crocuses are THIS CLOSE to blooming, and the daffodils are budding. I will focus on these things.
[Liz B. is rounding up at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy.]
Posted by adrienne at March 16, 2007 10:24 AM
Comments
Not to start the whole "what is poetry?" debate again, but I'm not much of a poetry fan.
*This* poem, however, I LOVED!!
Who knew I was an Emily Dickinson fan?? I'll have to explore this more...
Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Stay warm and cozy & hope it's the last weekend we need to snuggle a blanket/pet/person out of necessity!
Posted by: JJ at March 16, 2007 11:44 AM
I don't hate poetry, I think I'm just now learning what poetry I actually like and it's somewhere between Emily Dickenson and Wallace Stevens.
Posted by: chuck at March 16, 2007 12:45 PM
I have SAD too, Adrienne!! Spring, spring, spring.
Posted by: Kelly at March 16, 2007 09:13 PM
Hurrah for Emily!
This brings to mind two books:
A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb (amazing)
The Lost Girls by Laurie Fox (SAD)
Posted by: Little Willow at March 16, 2007 09:56 PM
Great Poetry Friday choice. Tell us about Emily's home some time!
Posted by: jules at March 17, 2007 11:44 AM
I started A Certain Slant of Light not so long after my husband died, and I couldn't finish it. I think it might have been the dead husband more than the book itself, though, and reading this poem made me remember what I had read and think about picking it up again. :)
It's hard to know what to say about Emily's home. She is one of my favorite poets, and I'm still trying to process it all.
Posted by: adrienne at March 18, 2007 12:12 AM
Well, if you ever decide to post about it, I'll read it!
Love the mermaid story . . .
Posted by: jules at March 18, 2007 09:40 AM
The mermaid thing reminded me a bit of the ongoing discussion in the blogosphere of MotherReader's latest article in The Edge of the Forest. It's an interesting discussion. I've found the kidlitosphere to be friendly and completely welcoming, but MoReader is absolutely right that it takes focus and real work if you want to be a blog that's very heavily read and noticed. I know I sacrifice something, for instance, with my lack of focus. I enjoy it so, though, which is why I keep doing it. :) So much of the rest of my life is focused; I like my blogging to be a little more free-wheeling. Anyway. I don't know how many folks are following that whole thing, but between that and the discussion Roger Sutton started about positive vs. negative reviews it has been a good -- dare I say "kick-ass"? -- week. :)
Posted by: adrienne at March 18, 2007 01:46 PM