Emily

[osprey_archer]

I like Emily Dickinson. She rewards both swift reading and long pondering, and she's written a poem for every permutation of mood and occasion.

Dawn

When the night is almost done
and sunrise grows so near
that we can touch the spaces,
it's time to smooth the hair

and get the dimples ready,
and wonder we could care
for that old faded midnight
that frightened but an hour.

I've known nights like that - sometimes even electric lights won't chase them away. But what are these spaces we can touch?

Comments

[entwashian.livejournal.com]

I couldn't really think of a serious answer or a silly one offhand, so I'll just say, 'Yea, Emily!'

And I honestly think her best poems are the creeptastic ones (http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/emilydickinson/10563).

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

She did have a strange affinity for death. I think one of the creepiest things about it, really, is how friendly death often seems in her poems. You could invite him in and have a cup of tea.

[entwashian.livejournal.com]

If you cannot stop for him, he kindly stops for you!

[inspirethoughts.livejournal.com]

But what are these spaces we can touch?

Spaces that make feel safe? Or may be spaces that define us without us expressing in words? Perhaps!

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Yes - and certainly there seems to be more space in the morning, when the edges of things are illuminated, than in the night when the dark fills everything up.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

tangible spaces--where the space around you is a presence, and you're interacting with it, maybe?

I like how you say that Emily Dickinson rewards both swift reading and long pondering. I agree, and man, that's something to aim for, I think. Hard, though.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Yes; and the spaces are softer in the light.

All the best goals are hard, I think. I can't decide if this is cruel, because we may strive and never meet them, or a challenge to be welcomed.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I agree--it's not cruel, I don't think; the challenge is a good thing.