Biography of Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson was born December 10th, 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her father was well known as he was a lawyer, treasurer of Amherst College and as well as served in the United States Congress.
Dickinson was educated at Amherst Academy (1834-1847) until she was later admitted to Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in 1847 where she stayed till 1848. Around 1850 she began writing poetry in a fairly conventional style, but after ten years she began her own signature style.
After the Civil War, Dickinson secluded herself inside a room only to contact others by mail. On the rare occasions Dickinson did have visitors, she dressed only in white. Her seclusion however did not limit her knowledge of fellow writers such as John Keats and Sir Thomas Brown.
Nor did it confine her from having a disappointing love affair with Reverend Charles Wadsworth, whom she often contacted or Samuel Bowles, the editor of the Springfield Republican, whom she addressed many poems.
Emily Dickinson died May 15th, 1886 from Bright's Disease. Her death brought fame as her sister co-edited three volumes of poems from 1891-1896. However, the complete and accurate text of all Dickinson's poems was not seen until 1955 when Thomas H. Johnson took the honor of publishing her works.
Many believe Dickinson's seclusion of the outside world helped her understand life by backing away from it. The quarantine helped her deduce human existence and write about such intimate experiences.
Poems by Emily Dickinson
- A Bird came down the Walk. The poet observes a bird.
- A something in a summer's Day. She speaks of her love of summer.
- A Charm Invests a Face. She doesn't wish to look under the veil.
- A Narrow Fellow in the Grass. A look at "The Snake".
- A Thunderstorm. Seek shelter before the storm.
- A Wounded Deer - Leaps Highest. The weak try to hide it.
- After great pain, a formal feeling comes. A pain which is never ending.
- Because I Could Not Stop for Death. The speaker is dead and death is gentle.
- The Brain - is wider than the Sky. Our relationship with the outside world.
- Bee! I'm expecting you!. She awaits her love.
- The Bustle in a House. Her way of dealing with a lost love.
- Come Slowly, Eden!. She awaits a bashful man.
- Dare you see a Soul at the White Heat. Through experience we better our souls.
- Death Sets a Thing. After a death, some things seem more valuable.
- Did the Harebell Loose Her Girdle. About a young woman.
- Escape is such a thankful Word. Freedom is bliss.
- "Faith" is a fine invention. Her views on religion.
- Fame is a bee. It has its ups and downs.
- Further in Summer than the Birds. Watching nature in summer.
- "Go tell it" - What a Message. Go tell her/him how you feel!
- He Touched Me, so I Live to Know. She was touched and now feels like she's on a cloud.
- The heart asks pleasure - first. About being broken hearted.
- Heart, We Will Forget Him!. She's trying to forget her love.
- High from the earth I heard a bird. She sees a bird resting.
- "Hope" is the thing with feathers -. A bird that always sings.
- I am alive - I guess. She discovers herself.
- I cannot live with You. Can't live with them, can't live without them.
- I died for beauty - but was scarce. A woman dies for beauty while a man dies for truth.
- I dwell in Possibility -. The possibilities of life.
- I Envy Seas, Whereon He Rides. She envies everything that comes in contact with her love.
- I felt a Funeral, in my Brain,. Hardships are taking their toll.
- I heard a Fly buzz - when I died. A smooth death followed by a horrific ending.
- I held a Jewel in my fingers. She lost something unexpectedly.
- I know a place where Summer strives. The cycle of seasons and life.
- I like to see it lap the Miles-. She observes a train.
- I many times thought Peace had come. She struggles with being alone.
- I never lost as much but twice. She begs God.
- I reckon - when I count at all -. She looks at the lives of poets.
- I sing to use the Waiting. She tells her love each day how she sung.
- I taste a liquor never brewed. She talks about drinking.
- I Went to Heaven. She speaks of its beauty.
- I would not paint - a picture. Her views on art.
- I'm Nobody! Who are You?. She's happy to be a "nobody".
- I've got an arrow here. She got shot by a simple arrow.
- I've known a Heaven, like a Tent. It just got up and left without a sign.
- It was not Death, for I stood up. She fantasizes about death.
- It's All I Have to Bring To-day. She can only bring her heart and all of nature.
- Much madness is divinest Sense. She looks at the meaning of sanity.
- My life closed twice before its close. She speaks about her loss, heaven, and hell.
- My River runs to thee. She asks the sea to take her.
- Not with a club, the Heart is broken. It is a whip which does the deed!
- The Only News I know. She seeks spiritual awareness.
- Pain - has an Element of Blank. The pain will always be there.
- The pedigree of Honey. The bee certainly isn't very picky.
- Proud of my broken heart, since thou didst break it. She's proud to have been left by her love.
- Publication - is the Auction. She argues about publishing our works.
- The Riddle we can guess. We are quickly bored.
- Safe in their Alabaster Chambers. About God and Christianity.
- She sweeps with many-colored brooms. She compares the housewife to the sun.
- The Soul has Bandaged moments. It feels like being liberated-or not.
- The Soul selects her own Society. We choose who we want to be around.
- Success is counted sweetest. The ones who fail see success greatest.
- Summer Shower ("A drop fell on the apple tree"). About rain during the summer.
- Tell all the Truth but tell it slant. Tell the Truth, but only if it is entertaining and gives an advantage.
- There came a Wind like a Bugle. She tells about a storm.
- There is a word. About a strong word.
- There is no Frigate like a Book. She talks about her pleasures in reading.
- There's a certain Slant of light. The winter light that comes.
- There's been a Death, in the Opposite House. She watches her neighbors.
- They shut me up in Prose. A rebellious poem.
- This was a Poet - It is That. A poet is rich.
- This is My Letter to the World. What does Nature say?
- This quiet Dust was Gentlemen and Ladies. She speaks of summer days.
- Title divine - is mine!. She looks at own "marriage".
- To wait an Hour is - long. Waiting is short if it is for love.
- We like March. The lovely spring.
- We outgrow love, like other things. Until it is in an antique show.
- We Play at Paste. We turn into fools.
- What if I say I shall not wait!. She speaks of suicide.
- When roses cease to bloom, dear. (The same as "When roses cease to bloom, Sir").
- Wild Nights! Wild Nights!. She speaks about her time with her lover.