Emily Dickinson Week—Day 1

Emily Dickinson was a master poet in every way. Rarely does a writer achieve such profound thought and feeling with so sparse an economy of words. Her poems, A Book, is a perfect example.

A Book

There is no frigate like a book
   To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
   Of prancing poetry.

This traverse may the poorest take
   Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
   That bears a human soul!

A young person may not know that frigates and coursers were types of swift war ships used in the nineteenth century. Had Emily Dickinson written this poem in our day she may have spoken of aircraft—perhaps even super-sonic transport such as used to fly between New York and Paris. Frigates and coursers were no doubt among the fastest ways a person could travel vast distances during her lifetime (1830-1886).

A well-written poem can take us “lands away” and bear our soul to new heights as much as a lengthy novel can, but we have to be willing to take the time to unravel the hidden meaning—sometimes even to read between the lines. Understanding the meaning and nuances of each word is far more important in appreciating a poem than in appreciating a novel. It therefore helps to understand the time and place in which the author lived and wrote.

The word “read” is related to the word “riddle”. As Hugh Nibley points out, when we read we “unriddle” the writer’s meaning.

Emily Dickinson’s poems have great staying power. Sometimes it takes years before I finally “get” one of her poems. When I finally understand what she meant in a certain poem the impact seems to remain forever fresh and forceful.

#     #     #

Bellevue, Nebraska 23 July 2012 ©2012 Daniel Kemper Lubben

{fcomment id=74}