Featured Poems of the Week:
Week of 1/29/23:
A FEW NOTES:
No poet wrote more poems about coffee than Emmett Lee Dickinson, Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request -- and for the past ten years, we have posted Dickinson's caffeinated poetry each and every day throughout the month of February (or FeBREWary, as we like to call it). Now February -- er, FeBREWary -- is rolling around, and for the elventh year in a row, we're going to post Dickinson's poetry about coffee (hmm...perhaps we should call it Joe-etry?).
The fun starts FeBREWary 1st -- just click HERE.
In honor of another 28 days of Joe-etry, I've posted Emmett Lee Dickinson's "The Dying need but little, Dear" as one of our Featured Poems of the Month. Dickinson's poem inspired his third cousin Emily to pen her poem with the same opening line, our other Featured Poem.
No poet wrote more poems about coffee than Emmett Lee Dickinson, Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request -- and for the past ten years, we have posted Dickinson's caffeinated poetry each and every day throughout the month of February (or FeBREWary, as we like to call it). Now February -- er, FeBREWary -- is rolling around, and for the elventh year in a row, we're going to post Dickinson's poetry about coffee (hmm...perhaps we should call it Joe-etry?).
The fun starts FeBREWary 1st -- just click HERE.
In honor of another 28 days of Joe-etry, I've posted Emmett Lee Dickinson's "The Dying need but little, Dear" as one of our Featured Poems of the Month. Dickinson's poem inspired his third cousin Emily to pen her poem with the same opening line, our other Featured Poem.
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
The Dying need but little, Dear, A Cup of Coffee’s all, A Java with impressive Foam To punctuate, Enthrall – A Brew, indeed, a Fluid Friend, And Certainty that one The color of the spring-time Mud Caffeine, to get me gone – |
By Emily Dickinson:
The Dying need but little, Dear, A Glass of Water's all, A Flower's unobtrusive Face To punctuate the Wall, A Fan, perhaps, a Friend's Regret, And Certainty that one No color in the Rainbow Perceive, when you are gone – |
IN OTHER NEWS: HAVE YOU SEEN MY NEW WEBSITE, "CODA"? IT INCLUDES A LIST OF MY TOP 100 CLASSICAL MUSIC FAVORITES -- HERE.
PLUS, ONCE PER WEEK, I LISTEN TO A PIECE I'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE AND RATE IT (HERE).
LAST WEEK I LISTENED TO TO HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS' CONCERTO FOR GUITAR AND CHAMBER ORCHESTRA.
THIS WEEK I WILL LISTEN TO PROKOFIEV'S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 4.
PLUS, ONCE PER WEEK, I LISTEN TO A PIECE I'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE AND RATE IT (HERE).
LAST WEEK I LISTENED TO TO HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS' CONCERTO FOR GUITAR AND CHAMBER ORCHESTRA.
THIS WEEK I WILL LISTEN TO PROKOFIEV'S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 4.
Last Week's Featured Poems of the Week:
Week of 1/22/23:
A FEW NOTES:
i had a particularly frustrating day last week. My Android died, and I had to call my carrier -- using my wife's phone of course -- and I got caught in a maddening loop within the automated system as it kept asking repetitive questions so that my responses kept the orbicular pattern going. Somehow i finally pushed the right sequence of keys that got me to a human, and ultimately i had to visit a local service outlet and the whole affair took several hours.
This all called to mind Emmett Lee Dickinson's now-classic poem "If calling from a Touch Tone Phone," one of our Featured Poems of the Week. Dickinson's poem inspired his third cousin to pen her poem "If you will coming in the Fall," our other Featured Poem.
i had a particularly frustrating day last week. My Android died, and I had to call my carrier -- using my wife's phone of course -- and I got caught in a maddening loop within the automated system as it kept asking repetitive questions so that my responses kept the orbicular pattern going. Somehow i finally pushed the right sequence of keys that got me to a human, and ultimately i had to visit a local service outlet and the whole affair took several hours.
This all called to mind Emmett Lee Dickinson's now-classic poem "If calling from a Touch Tone Phone," one of our Featured Poems of the Week. Dickinson's poem inspired his third cousin to pen her poem "If you will coming in the Fall," our other Featured Poem.
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
If calling from a Touch Tone Phone Press One as indication-- Remain on Hold for Service-- Press Two for confirmation. If phoning for a certain line, Press Three in affirmation-- With half a smile, and half a spurn-- Press Four for conversation. On Hold—uncertain of the length? Unsure the line will Ring? Like the Busy Bumble Bee Which will not state its Sting. If, for Centuries, you are delayed-- With Patience at its end-- If certain that a line is out-- Press Five to start again. A matter of Necessity: If voice-mail is required-- Press Six—and should the numbers fuse-- Hang up—and Press “Re-Dial.” |
By Emily Dickinson:
If you were coming in the Fall, I'd brush the Summer by With half a smile, and half a spurn, As Housewives do, a Fly. If I could see you in a year, I'd wind the months in balls -- And put them each in separate Drawers, For fear the numbers fuse -- If only Centuries, delayed, I'd count them on my Hand, Subtracting, till my fingers dropped Into Van Dieman's Land. If certain, when this life was out -- That yours and mine, should be I'd toss it yonder, like a Rind, And take Eternity -- But, now, uncertain of the length Of this, that is between, It goads me, like the Goblin Bee -- That will not state — its sting. |
Previous Week's Featured Poems of the Week:
Week of 1/15/23:
Have your holiday bills from the 2022 Shopping Season started rolling in yet? How much deeper in debt are you now? Of course, some of the new debt might be due to inflation -- but isn't interesting that companies and corporations are reporting record profits? Hmm...just a thought.
Anyway, I thought I'd post Emmett Lee Dickinson's now-classic poem "Because I could not stop for Debt" as one of our Featured Poems this week. Dickinson's poem inspired his third-cousin Emily to pen her poem "Because I could not stop for Death," our other Featured Poem.
Anyway, I thought I'd post Emmett Lee Dickinson's now-classic poem "Because I could not stop for Debt" as one of our Featured Poems this week. Dickinson's poem inspired his third-cousin Emily to pen her poem "Because I could not stop for Death," our other Featured Poem.
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
Because I could not stop for Debt – He kindly stopped for me – The Wagon carried just Ourselves – But also Bankruptcy. We slowly drove – He knew no haste And I had put away My Mastercard and my Visa too, For his cold C.O.D. – We passed a Church – where churchmice strove – Scampering – in the field – Trying to collect what crumbs they could – To set a decent meal. We passed before a House that seemed In utter disrepair – There was no Roof to shelter heads – The walls were stark and bare. Since then – ‘tis Billing Cycles – and yet Feels shorter than a Sale I first surmised the Horses’ Heads Were toward Approved Credit – |
By Emily Dickinson:
Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage held but just Ourselves – And Immortality. We slowly drove – He knew no haste And I had put away My labor and my leisure too, For his Civility – We passed the School, where Children strove At recess – in the Ring – We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain – We passed the Setting Sun – Or rather – He passed Us – The Dews drew quivering and chill – For only Gossamer, my gown – My Tippet – only Tulle – We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground – The Roof was scarcely visible – The Cornice – in the Ground – Since then – ‘tis Centuries – and yet Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses’ Heads Were toward Eternity – |
