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What Would Emily Say?, page 5
An Indeath Interview with Emily Dickinson, by Robyn Su Millerz
 More of this Feature
• What Would Emily Say?
• “'Tis true— They shut me in the Cold—
• “Opinion is a flitting thing,
• “You cannot put a Fire out—
 

And yet, for now, dissenters from the warmongering party line are being called anti-American, and are even charged with being in cahoots with Iraqi agitators.

Much Madness is divinest Sense—
To a discerning Eye—
Much sense— the starkest Madness—
'Tis the Majority
In this, as All, prevail—
Assent— and you are sane—
Demur— you're straightway dangerous—
And handled with a chain—

What kind of peace will bloodshed ensure?

A chilly Peace infests the Grass
The Sun respectful lies—
Not any Trance of industry
These shadows scrutinize—

Whose Allies go no more astray
For service or for Glee—
But all mankind deliver here
From whatsoever sea—

So, if we don't learn to live in peace, we'll have to rest in peace. What about the value of speaking Truth to Power, regardless of the impact?

Power is a familiar growth—
Not foreign— not to be—
Beside us like a bland Abyss
In every company—
Escape it— there is but a chance—
When consciousness and clay
Lean forward for a final glance—
Disprove that and you may—

Tell all the Truth but tell it slant—
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth's superb surprise

As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind—

We certainly live in Interesting Times, as the ancient Chinese curse goes. Any final thoughts on how we should bear up?

We dream— it is good we are dreaming—
It would hurt us— were we awake—
But since it is playing— kill us,
And we are playing— shriek—

What harm? Men die— externally—
It is a truth— of Blood—
But we— are dying in Drama—
And Drama— is never dead—

No end of Drama, but an end of our time together for now. We thank you, Emily Dickinson, for kindly stopping by. We at Dead Poets Today, and our readers, are eternally grateful for your presence.

I had no time to hate, because
The grave would hinder me,
And life was not so ample
I Could finish enmity.

Nor had I time to love; but since
Some industry must be,
The little toil of love, I thought,
Was large enough for me.

Emily Dickinson, 1830 - 1886

Back to first page > What Would Emily Say? > page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5



Robyn Su Millerz was our Boston/New England Museletter correspondent in 2000 and 2001. She is the author of one previous feature article for About Poetry:


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