FeBREWary 2014In FeBREWary 2014, enjoy a SECOND CUP
of coffee poetry by Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request). The first cup of poetry (from FeBREWary 2013) is HERE. |
Check out Emmett Lee Dickinson's coffee poetry below.
In each case, Dickinson's poem appears on the right, and then on the left is a poem by third cousin Emily Dickinson
which was inspired by the poem by Emmett Lee Dickinson.
In each case, Dickinson's poem appears on the right, and then on the left is a poem by third cousin Emily Dickinson
which was inspired by the poem by Emmett Lee Dickinson.
FeBREWary 1st
By Emily Dickinson:
It was given to me by the Gods – When I was a little Girl – They give us Presents most – you know – When we are new – and small. I kept it in my Hand – I never put it down – I did not dare to eat – or sleep – For fear it would be gone – I heard such words as "Rich" – When hurrying to school – From lips at Corners of the Streets – And wrestled with a smile. Rich! 'Twas Myself – was rich – To take the name of Gold – And Gold to own – in solid Bars – The Difference – made me bold – |
By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
It is given to me by the Gods – When I am starting to Stir – It gives me a Presence most – you know – When I am new – and blurred. I keep it in my Hand – I slowly drink it down – I do not dare to gulp – or swig – For fear it would be gone – I use such words as “Rich” – When hurrying to work – From sips at Corners on the Streets – And wrestle with a smirk. Rich! ’Tis Myself – am rich – To drink my fill of Gold – And Gold to own – in liquid Form –The Diffe– The Difference – makes me bold – |
FeBREWary 2nd:
By Emily Dickinson:
Exhilaration is the Breeze That lifts us from the Ground, And leaves us in another place Whose statement is not found – Returns us not, but after time We soberly descend A little newer for the term Upon Enchanted Ground – |
By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
Exhilaration is the Brew That lifts us from its Grounds, And leaves us in another place Where dullness is not found – Returns us not, but after time We solemnly descend A bit enlivened for the term Because Enchanted Grounds – |
FeBREWary 3rd:
By Emily
Dickinson:
Impossibility, like Wine Exhilarates the Man Who tastes it; Possibility Is flavorless – Combine A Chance's faintest Tincture And in the former Dram Enchantment makes ingredient As certainly as Doom – |
By Emmett Lee
Dickinson:
Impossibility, like Joe Exhilarates the Man Who tastes it; Possibility Is flavorless – Combine A Tankard’s weakest Tincture And in the former Quaff One extra shot makes vitality As certainly as Life – |
FeBREWary 4th:
FeBREWary 5th:
FeBREWary 6th:
By Emily
Dickinson:
To fill a Gap Insert the Thing that caused it – Block it up With Other – and 'twill yawn the more – You cannot solder an Abyss With Air. |
By Emmett Lee
Dickinson:
To fill a Cup Insert the Brew caused for it – Fill it up With Java – and I’ll yawn no more – I cannot open my Eyes With Air. |
FeBREWary 7th:
By Emily Dickinson:
A Route of Evanescence With a revolving Wheel – A Resonance of Emerald – A Rush of Cochineal – And every Blossom on the Bush Adjusts its tumbled Head – The mail from Tunis, probably, An easy Morning's Ride – |
By Emmett Lee
Dickinson:
A Mug of Effervescence With a reviving Zeal – A Prevalence of Energy – A Rush that feels Unreal – And every Sip throughout the Route Adjusts my tumbled Head – The ride to Work, most probably, An easy Morning’s Ride – |
FeBREWary 8th:
By Emily Dickinson: Speech is one symptom of Affection And Silence one The perfectest communication Is heard of none Exists and its endorsement Is had within Behold, said the Apostle, Yet had not seen! |
By Emmett Lee Dickinson: Gulp is one symptom of Affection And a Sip one – The perfectest gratification Till it is done – Vigor and its nourishment Is held within – Behold, said the Barista, Your needed caffeine! |
FeBREWary 9th:
By Emily Dickinson: I had a daily Bliss I half indifferent viewed Till sudden I perceived it stir -- It grew as I pursued Till when around a Height It wasted from my sight Increased beyond my utmost scope I learned to estimate. |
By Emmett Lee Dickinson: I have a daily Bliss With half-and-half I brew Till sudden I receive and stir – Each morning I pursue. Till in the cup so Hot I taste it with delight Increases beyond my utmost scope It does rejuvenate. |
FeBREWary 10th:
FeBREWary 11th:
By Emily Dickinson:
At Half past Three A single Bird Unto a silent Sky Propounded but a single term Of cautious melody. At Half past Four Experiment had subjugated test And lo, Her silver Principle Supplanted all the rest. At Half past Seven Element nor Implement, be seen And Place was where the Presence was Circumference between. |
By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
At Half past Three A single Shot Into this silent Guy Propounded but a single hour Of robust energy. At Half past Four A double of the caffeinated best And lo, Its muddy Principle Supplanted me from rest. At Half past Seven Dissonant and Indolent, I seek The Place from where the Lifeblood was Created and steamed. |
FeBREWary 12th:
By Emily Dickinson: 'T is so much joy! 'T is so much joy! If I should fail, what poverty! And yet, as poor as I Have ventured upon a throw; Have gained! Yes! Hesitated so This side the victory! Life is but life, and death but death! Bliss is but bliss and breath but breath! And if, indeed, I fail, At least to know the worst is sweet. Defeat means nothing but defeat, No drearier can prevail! And if I gain, – oh, gun at sea, Oh, bells that in the steeples be, At first repeat it slow! For heaven is a different thing Conjectured, and waked sudden in, And might o'erwhelm me so |
By Emmett Lee Dickinson: 'T is so much joe! 'T is so much joe! How can I choose, what profusion? And yet, as poor as I Have ventured into a shop To gain – Yes – a celebrated cup This side of victory! Life is but life, and death but death! Bliss is but bliss, and breath but breath! And when, indeed, I place My request I know the end is sweet. Delight brings nothing but delight, No other drink can provide! And when I gain, – the mug for me, Oh, bells that in the steeples be, At first repeat it slow! For java is a heavenly thing A slow sip, then take sudden in, And then o’erwhelm me so |
FeBREWary 13th:
By Emily
Dickinson:
Color – Caste – Denomination – These – are Time's Affair – Death's diviner Classifying Does not know they are – As in sleep – All Hue forgotten – Tenets – put behind – Death's large – Democratic fingers Rub away the Brand – If Circassian – He is careless – If He put away Chrysalis of Blonde – or Umber – Equal Butterfly – They emerge from His Obscuring – What Death – knows so well – Our minuter intuitions – Deem unplausible – |
By Emmett Lee
Dickinson:
Color – Taste – Appreciation – These – are Java’s Flair – Life’s divinest Gratifying Dose – which makes me more aware – From my sleep – All news forgotten – Moments – put behind – Days merge – Automatic actions Mechanical go Round – Then Espresso – Ordered with care – Then I stand and wait Dark Roast or Light – or Medium – I soon begin to fly – I emerge from my Obscurity – With Life – grow and swell – One minute an apparition – Then unstoppable – |
FeBREWary 14th:
FeBREWary 15th:
By Emily
Dickinson:
Strong Draughts of Their Refreshing Minds To drink – enables Mine Through Desert or the Wilderness As bore it Sealed Wine – To go elastic – Or as One The Camel's trait – attained – How powerful the Stimulus Of an Hermetic Mind – |
By Emmett Lee
Dickinson:
Strong Draughts for Refreshing my Mind My drink – enables Me Through Monday and the Work Week And bear it with Glee – It’s so fantastic – When with One The Caffeine drink’s – attained – How powerful the Stimulus On a Frenetic Mind – a |
FeBREWary 16th:
By Emily
Dickinson:
Exhilaration – is within – There can no Outer Wine So royally intoxicate As that diviner Brand The Soul achieves – Herself – To drink – or set away For Visitor – Or Sacrament – 'Tis not of Holiday To stimulate a Man Who hath the Ample Rhine Within his Closet – Best you can Exhale in offering. |
By Emmett Lee
Dickinson:
Exhilaration – is within – There is no Other Drink So totally caffeinated As a Coffee at hand My Soul achieves – Itself – I drink – then get away For even More – A Sacrament Known as the Coffee Break To stimulate a Man Who hath a sharp Decline Within his Day – the Best you can Is offering Coffee. |
FeBREWary 17th:
By Emily
Dickinson:
I know lives, I could miss Without a Misery – Others – whose instant's wanting – Would be Eternity – The last – a scanty Number – 'Twould scarcely fill a Two – The first – a Gnat's Horizon Could easily outgrow – |
By Emmett Lee
Dickinson:
I know drinks, I could miss Without a Misery – Coffee – whose instant’s wanting – Would be Eternity – The blast – I feel from Coffee – Doth keep me on my Toes – The thirst – a new Horizon The others can’t expose – |
FeBREWary 18th:
By Emily Dickinson: Sweet is the swamp with its secrets, Until we meet a snake; 'Tis then we sigh for houses, And our departure take At that enthralling gallop That only childhood knows. A snake is summer's treason, And awe is where it goes. |
By Emmett Lee Dickinson: Sweet is the mud with its caffeine, And when we greet the day ’Tis then a sip for vigor And our departure take At that enthralling gallop That only childhood knows! Caffeine is morning’s reason, And awe is where we go. |
FeBREWary 19th:
By Emily
Dickinson:
’Twas here my summer paused What ripeness after then To other scene or other soul My sentence had begun. To winter to remove With winter to abide Go manacle your icicle Against your Tropic Bride. |
By Emmett Lee
Dickinson:
’Twas here my workday paused What ripeness after that With full caffeine and dark roast soul My coffee break began. To better to relax Then better to get up Go wander from your cubicle To find your Tropic Mud |
FeBREWary 20th:
By Emily Dickinson: The mob within the heart Police cannot suppress The riot given at the first Is authorized as peace Uncertified of scene Or signified of sound But growing like a hurricane In a congenial ground. |
By Emmett Lee Dickinson: The mud within the heart The Nerves cannot suppress The riot given at the first Is recognized as best Manifested of bean And packaged by the pound And brewing with a fragrant air From aromatic grounds. |
FeBREWary 21st:
FeBREWary 22nd:
By Emily Dickinson: A Cap of Lead across the sky Was tight an surly drawn We could not find the mighty Face The Figure was withdrawn – A Chill came up as from a shaft Our noon became a well A Thunder storm combines the charms Of Winter and of Hell. |
By Emmett Lee Dickinson: A Cup of Mud just for this guy Was right and quickly brewed He could not face the mighty Day His figure was renewed – A Warmth came up as from a shaft His morn began to redden A Ray of Sun combined with charm – His day became a Heaven. |
FeBREWary 23rd:
FeBREWary 24th:
FeBREWary 25th:
FeBREWary 26th:
By Emily
Dickinson:
I held a Jewel in my fingers – And went to sleep – The day was warm, and winds were prosy – I said "'Twill keep" – I woke – and chid my honest fingers, The Gem was gone – And now, an Amethyst remembrance Is all I own – |
By Emmett Lee
Dickinson:
I held a Coffee in my hands – To stay awake – The drink was warm, its taste was dazing – I said “’I’ll take” – I drank – and chid my hurried hands, The Drink was gone – And now, a Russet remembrance Is all I own – |
FeBREWary 27th:
By Emily
Dickinson:
Somehow myself survived the Night And entered with the Day – That it be saved the Saved suffice Without the Formula. Henceforth I take my living place As one commuted led – A Candidate for Morning Chance But dated with the Dead. |
By Emmett Lee
Dickinson:
Somehow myself survived the Morn And entered to the Day – That I was saved with Savory brew No doubt, the “Formula.” Therefore I took my living place As one commuter set – A Candidate for Morning’s Rush Among the living Dead. |
FeBREWary 28th:
By Emily
Dickinson:
A Day! Help! Help! Another Day! Your prayers – Oh Passer by! From such a common ball as this Might date a Victory! From marshallings as simple The flags of nations swang. Steady — my soul: What issues Upon thine arrow hang! |
By Emmett Lee
Dickinson:
A Joe! Help! Help! Another Day! My prayers – Don’t pass me by! From such a coffee cup as this Might make a Victory! I’m marveling how simple The force that coffee brings. Steady – my soul: What issues With Joe become my dreams! |
All things Emmett Lee Dickinson (poetry, museum stuff, Washerst facts and figures, etc.) © 2013, 2014, and 2015 by Jim Asher