A Poem for Grace's Poppies

LXXXII or There's a Certain Slant of Light
by Emily Dickinson

There's a certain slant of light,
On winter afternoons,
That opresses, like the weight
Of cathedral tunes.

Heavenly hurt it gives us;
We can find no scar,
But internal difference
Where the meanings are.

None may teach it anything,
'Tis the seal, despair, --
an imperial affliction
Sent us of the air.

When it comes, the landscape listens,
Shadows hold their breath;
When it goes, 't is like the distance
On the look of death.

Thanks for getting poetry out there Grace.  (You do know that you can sing most of Emily's poems to the tune of "The Yellow Rose of Texas", don't you?  English Teacher humor.)

Comments

[Ruth]

Oh, great. Now I'm imagining an Emily Dickinson Square Dance Fiesta ... and I love Emily Dickinson.

This is one of my favorites. Thanks for posting it.

[Amanda]

I was going to say the "Yellow Rose of Texas" thing!!!