#1075
The Sky is low -- the Clouds are mean.A Travelling Flake of SnowAcross a Barn or through a RutDebates if it will go --A Narrow Wind complains all DayHow some one treated himNature, like Us is sometimes caughtWithout her Diadem.
-Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson is probably my favorite writer of ballad-meter poems, and when I was thinking about ballads, I pulled the book off the shelf & started browsing. I must have read this one before, but I didn't remember it, and it struck me on this reading. Though not yet seasonally appropriate: we've had glorious Indian Summer weather lately (at least until tonight when we're getting a light rain) and they're predicting more lovely weather next week. But maybe the poem is newish to you, too.
But in case that's not enough... 😉 One of my favorites, and a more commonly anthologized poem:
#410
We grow accustomed to the Dark --When Light is put away --As when the Neighbor holds the LampTo witness her Goodbye --A Moment -- We uncertain stepFor newness of the night --Then -- fit our vision to the Dark --And meet the Road -- erect --And so of larger -- Darknesses --Those Evenings of the Brain --When not a Moon disclose a sign --Or Star -- come out -- within --The Bravest -- grope a little --And sometimes hit a TreeDirectly in the Forehead --But as they learn to see --Either the Darkness alters --Or something in the sightAdjusts itself to Midnight --And Life steps almost straight.
-Emily Dickinson
I did once walk into a tree, hitting it with my forehead, in the woods on a pitch-black night. I'm not sure I'm one of the Bravest, though... 😉
I like Dickinson's poems. I haven't read either of these before, but we've had a narrow complaining wind outside all day today, so that first one was very fitting.
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely days where I know what she means, but today's been lovely again for us. So no complaining here!
DeleteBoth of these are new to me, so thank you. I'm thinking now about how we have grown accustomed to the Dark in recent years...
ReplyDeleteThere are all sorts of unfortunate ways one does get accustomed to the dark...maybe though we will see better soon!
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