Send me an email with your blog information to savvyverseandwit AT gmail DOT com
And now, for the thirteenth edition of the Virtual Poetry Circle:
OK, Here's a poem up for reactions, interaction, and--dare I say it--analysis:
Remember, this is just for fun and is not meant to be stressful.
Keep in mind what Molly Peacock's books suggested. Look at a line, a stanza, sentences, and images; describe what you like or don't like; and offer an opinion. If you missed my review of her book, check it out here.
Today's poem is a classic from one of my favorite poets Emily Dickinson.
Because I Could Not Stop for Death (712)
Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage held but just Ourselves – And Immortality. We slowly drove – He knew no haste And I had put away My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility – We passed the School, where Children strove At Recess – in the Ring – We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain – We passed the Setting Sun – Or rather – He passed us – The Dews drew quivering and chill – For only Gossamer, my Gown – My Tippet – only Tulle – We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground – The Roof was scarcely visible – The Cornice – in the Ground – Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses' Heads Were toward Eternity –
Let me know your thoughts, ideas, feelings, impressions. Let's have a great discussion...pick a line, pick an image, pick a sentence.
I've you missed the other Virtual Poetry Circles, check them out here. It's never too late to join the discussion.
Don't forget all those great giveaways in the right sidebar for BBAW. I know its over but the giveaways continue.
12 comments:
For some strange reason, this is my favorite Emily Dickinson poem, and you know how much I love her.
I just love the first two lines. No one wants to go, but it's going to happen whether you want it to or not. And that's enough on that subject. LOL
--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
I felt inspired to post this poem after reading some Vampire Haiku! LOL
I really love that she touches upon everyone's fear of death and how it is going to come for you regardless if you are ready for it.
I like these lines:
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility –
I wonder how civil he really is...if he were a being.
Serena (and all), this is my first time doing Verse Reviewers, so hopefully I am doing this right. I wrote a post with my comments on my blog here:
http://bettyboochronicles.blogspot.com/2009/09/verse-reviewers.html
I read and studied this in college lit. It is really a great work. For some reason I am thinking of another poem of hers about a fly. I will have to post later on that. Thanks for posting. :)
Very nice poem :)
Toni: I don't remember the poem with fly, so I look forward to you posting about it. I really love her poems.
Death's civility reminds me of "Death takes a holiday," in which Frederic March, as Death, decides to see why people fear it (and why they love life). Death, in this film, is urbane and civil instead of grim and violent. Emily's use of the word "kindly" tells me that she knows that Death is natural, not a brute.
(I love her poetry so much that we're on a first-name basis!)
I love the imagery in this particular poem. We studied it in school and I could almost imagine death riding up in a horse and carriage and inviting Emily along for the ride. Sort of an odd "Peter Pan" thing -- death will be the greatest adventure of all.
I agree with Anna, the first two lines are perfect. They set the mood for the rest of the poem. She makes it seem like Death was ok and not to be feared.
Emily Dickinson is one of my favorite poets too.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
This is one of my favorite Emily Dickinson poems! The first stanza is especially memorable. I own her complete book of poetry, but haven't read all of the poems. I just pull it out and read a morsel every now and then.
Like all Emily Dickinson poems, this one can be sung to the tune of "The Yellow Rose of Texas," and it's particularly funny with the rising third you're left on at the end of the word "immortality"...
I remember this one! I know it! And I find myself reading it in a ridiculous sing-song voice that seems very inappropriate.
Post a Comment