The Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum - PLOG: Poetry Blog

In Living Color

12/9/2018

From our art columnist, Jarvis MacKinnon III:

Pantone, the company that set the "worldwide standard for color communication and inspiration since 1963," finally named the Color of the Year for 2019 from four finalists, and the winner is...a drum roll please...

LIVING CORAL:

From the company's website: "In reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life, we are seeking authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy. Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity. Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression."

"Representing the fusion of modern life, PANTONE Living Coral is a nurturing color that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time, displays a lively presence within social media."

Many other colors had been nominated, and earlier this month, the choice was narrowed to four. Here are the other three contenders:

LIVING LAUREL:

Although the color Living Laurel represents friendship, affection, harmony, inner peace, and approachability, the Color of the Year committee rejected the color because during the vote, half of the committee said they saw Living Laurel, and the other half said they saw a color called Living Yanny -- another mystery associated with the Laurel/Yanny controversy. More info HERE.

LIVING AMORAL:

Living Amoral was nominated to be Color of the Year after an anonymous editorial appeared in The New York Times that documented the chaos and corruption of the Trump administration. Written by an insider who promised that "there are adults in the room" to keep an eye on Trump, the author said, "The root of the problem is the president’s amorality."

Living Amoral, like the Trump administration, was deemed to be too detrimental to the health of our republic.

LIVING SQUIRREL:

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To prove to the squirrels that it could be done.

Yes, the stigma attached to squirrels as America's favorite road kill foiled any chance "Living Squirrel" had in becoming the 2019 Color of the Year form the start!

To review our posts on past colors of the year, click HERE and scroll down the page.

Domestic Violence

12/8/2018

From our political correspondent, Dorothy "Lottie" Dawe:

Yesterday's news was dominated by Robert Mueller's sentencing memo concerning Michael Cohen, and it was very ominous for Individual-1, Donald Trump. Trump's crimes are catching up with him, and the walls are caving in.

Earlier in the morning, though, before his Tweet-storm against Mueller's investigation, Trump tweeted a vitriolic message to his clan that was only meant to incite and inflame. One hour later, CNN offices in New York were evacuated due to a bomb threat.

I. Was. Appalled.

To be honest, I expected to see more of this -- any of this -- on the news, but there was nothing. Certainly the felonies committed by Individual-1, i.e., the President, were big news, but I couldn't believe that no one covered the message of violence that Trump tweeted out to his clan -- especially in light of the immediate response from a second MAGA bomber.

Trump's ugliness was never so repugnant. It called to mind Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "To this World he tweeted" (below on the left). Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "To this World she returned" (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

To this World he tweeted.
But with a tinge of hate –
An Unsound manner,
As a Clod
Espoused his Violence,
That chiefer to his Clan
Than to himself, allied,
Dwelt relegating, half are Dull
And half are Daft, his Brood

By Emily Dickinson:

To this World she returned.
But with a tinge of that --
A Compound manner,
As a Sod
Espoused a Violet,
That chiefer to the Skies
Than to himself, allied,
Dwelt hesitating, half of Dust,
And half of Day, the Bride.

Into The Wild

12/8/2018

From Jim Asher, the world's leading authority on Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request):

I received a reminder about the Emily Dickinson Birthday Tribute on Monday, December 10, at the Folger Shakespeare Library. I'll be there.

I also attended the October 12th birthday tribute to Emmett Lee Dickinson at the Folger Coffee Company Plant where Meryl Streep and Servi-Tron, the new futuristic robot at Starbucks, read from The Garbaged Somethings, a collection of scraps and spoils with the poetry of Emmett Lee Dickinson.

To read our past posts on The Garbaged Somethings, click HERE.

This Monday’s tribute to Emily Dickinson includes a screening of “Wild Nights with Emily ,” a soon-to-be released film about the Belle of Amherst.

October’s tribute to Emmett Lee Dickinson included a similar affair with the screening of the Oscar-nominated major motion picture “Wild Rice with Emmett Lee,” a cooking documentary staring Jack Black as Emmett Lee Dickinson, the Boor of Washerst.

Pictured at the right: The Garbaged Somethings, a collection of Emmett Lee Dickinson poems on scraps and spoils.

Below left: The movie poster for "Wild Nights with Emily"

Below right: The movie poster for "Wild Rice with Emmett Lee."

By Emily Dickinson:

Wild Nights – Wild Nights!
Were I with thee
Wild Nights should be
Our luxury!

Futile – the Winds –
To a Heart in port –
Done with the Compass –
Done with the Chart!

Rowing in Eden –
Ah, the Sea!
Might I but moor – Tonight –
In Thee!

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

Wild Rice – Wild Rice!
Long grain of whole
Wild Rice is steaming
My life by the bowl!

Futile – the Cook –
Who microwaves –
Done in an Instant –
Done without Taste!

With passion I’ve eaten –
Wild Rice – I assert –
It might be for dinner – But should be –
Dessert!

Below: An exclusive photo of Jack Black during the filming of "Wild Rice with Emmett Lee."

If you are present at Monday night's event at the Folger Shakespeare, be sure to say, "Hello."

I'll be wearing my pin of third cousin Emily (pictured at the right).

Coming Sooner Than Soon!

12/2/2018

From our senior book reviewer, Philo Remington:

If a poet writes poems, does a haikuet write haikus? Or would that be a haikuer?

Well, I suppose that’s a topic for a future plog (poetry blog) post. For now, I would just like focus on the much anticipated release of When They Go Low, We Go Haiku, a compilation of very clever haikus documenting Donald Trump’s “journey from President-Elect to unindicted Co-Conspirator, three lines and seventeen syllables at a time.”

Haikus are easy
Just as long as you include
Seventeen sylla–

Yes, perhaps anyone can be a haikuet (haikuer?) if they just slap down seventeen syllables. However, Chicago haikuet (haikuer?) Mary Steinberg has assembled over 150 smart – and smarting – haikus about the Grifter (Steinberg’s moniker for the orange menace in the Oval Office), his cabinet of “sicko-phants,” his following of flaky flagellants, his demon offspring, and more. No one in Trump’s clan is safe!

The front and back covers and the inside layouts have all been approved, and Ms. Steinberg is set to receive and review the final proof this week – so the book will likely be available for purchase by the end of the week (and believe me, When They Go Low, We Go Haiku will make PERFECT stocking stuffers for all of the Never-Trumpers and Blue Wave resisters in your world).

Once the book is “good to go,” I’ll send out an update! Stay tuned!

To check out Steinberg’s site for When They Go Low, We Go Haiku, click HERE.

Her most recent Friday haiku -- which she has dubbed a "Fri-ku" -- about the special election results in Mississippi is HERE.

Evil Twin

11/27/2018

From our entertainment editor, Qwerty Lee Dickinson:

You know, I never thought about Trump looking like Elvis until he said it -- but dang if the man ain't right! I went and checked out some old pics of Trump, and sure enough, he's the spittin' image of Elvis!

It won't be long until he's starring in his own version of Jailhouse Rock!

Déjà Food

11/25/2018

From our food editor, Verla Burrell-Bordelon:

I hope you were able to enjoy a savory Thanksgiving feast this past Thursday. I also hope you've been able to enjoy tasty leftovers again and again throughout the rest of the weekend.

Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) loved Thanksgiving -- and left-overs too -- and he immortalized his love a feasting on turkey and on all of the many and various side dishes and desserts in his poem "One Helping had I – then the rest" (below on the left)."

Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "One Blessing had I than the rest" (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

One Helping had I – then the rest
Much larger to my Eyes
When I stopped gorging – satisfied –
I’d grown another size –

It was the limit of my Dream –
The focus of my Prayer –
A perfect – paralyzing Bliss –
Contented with this Fare –

I knew no more of Want – of Food –
Fantastic to the crumb
For these new Rations in my Soul –
Supremest Earthly Sum –

With Heaven consumed and Heaven to go –
I ate till I was Blue
Life’s Latitudes leant over – full –
My Judgment perished – too –

With Bliss so festively thus served –
With Paradise in store –
With Foods all served to Us – in Bowls –
I’ll masticate some more –

By Emily Dickinson:

One Blessing had I than the rest
So larger to my Eyes
That I stopped gauging – satisfied –
For this enchanted size –

It was the limit of my Dream –
The focus of my Prayer –
A perfect – paralyzing Bliss –
Contented as Despair –

I knew no more of Want – or Cold –
Phantasms both become
For this new Value in the Soul –
Supremest Earthly Sum –

The Heaven below the Heaven above –
Obscured with ruddier Blue –
Life's Latitudes leant over – full –
The Judgment perished – too –

Why Bliss so scantily disburse –
Why Paradise defer –
Why Floods be served to Us – in Bowls –
I speculate no more –

NOTE: Dickinson wrote an earlier version of this poem about Super Bowl buffets. You can find is HERE. Which version do you prefer?

Dumb Blond

11/25/2018

From our current affairs editor, Lemuel Stuart III:

An article from June 2017 entitled "Donald Trump might be the dimmest President the US has ever had" is making the rounds again, and there's been some debate about this on Twitter. Well, there really has been no debate. Instead, people are just tweeting the obvious response: "Might be?"

Much of Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "He's dropped so low -- in all Regard" (below on the left), written in 1853, seems to document much what is going on with Trump today:

* He drops lower and lower in the polls (TBH, I can't fathom why even 39% of the population would support this fraud).
* He's dumber than a bag of stones.
* Many say his mind is unsound -- to the point that he is unhinged.
* He always applauds himself (recently he graded his presidency with an "A+," and he was thankful for himself on Thanksgiving).
* He generates racist scares, and he continues to amass wealth through shady politics and tax breaks for the rich.

It is simply amazing how visionary Dickinson was with this poem. Dickinson's poem also inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "It dropped so low -- in my Regard" (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

He’s dropped so low – in all Regard –
He’s fallen ‘neath the Ground –
And dumber than a bag of Stones
They say his Mind’s unsound –

We blame the Fate that brung it – forth
Though he applauds Himself
For generating Racist Scares
As he amasses Wealth –

By Emily Dickinson:

It dropped so low – in my Regard –
I heard it hit the Ground –
And go to pieces on the Stones
At bottom of my Mind –

Yet blamed the Fate that flung it – less
Than I denounced Myself,
For entertaining Plated Wares
Upon my Silver Shelf –

O'Keeffe & Dickinson

11/24/2018

From our art columnist, Jarvis MacKinnon III:

"UNEXPECTED O'KEEFE" is an exhibit at the Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. The exhibit runs through January 27, 2019.

Below is information from the exhibit which documents O'Keeffe's time at UVA:

Established in 1880, the University of Virginia's summer program provided the first opportunity for women to enroll in college-level courses on Grounds. Only male students received official credit for study ranging from arts and literature to home economics, a policy reflecting the broader attitude diminishing the significance of educating women at the university level.

In the summer of 1912, Georgia O'Keeffe's sisters registered for several classes and encouraged their older sister to enroll in arts courses as a means to continue her studies and progress toward professional standing as an artist. They also persuaded her to take a course on the poetry of Emmett Lee Dickinson, as they were well aware of their sister's love of the poets life and work.

The books included in the case shown below include some with an emphasis on the rise of feminism and socialism and one biography of Emmett Lee Dickinson, literature and media that O'Keeffe was known to have read when she came and went from the University.

O'Keeffe's exposure to these progressive social and political works -- along with the poetry of Emmett Lee Dickinson -- contributed to her growing sense of independence not only as a woman in a field dominated by men but also as a painter discovering her own voice in increasingly modern times.

Left: "Permanent Record Cards" from UVA's summer program for Georgia O'Keeffe's sisters, Claudia, Ida and Antia.

Below: the "Permanent Record Card" for Georgia O"Keeffe, who registered in art classes and one poetry class. (Click the image to enlarge.)

Below: A text which Georgia O'Keeffe read while attending the summer program at the University of Virginia:

Below: Paintings by O'Keeffe from her time at the University of Virginia:

For more information on Georgia O'Keeffe and Emmett Lee Dickinson, click HERE.

Another current exhibit at the Fralin is "Highlights from the Heywood and Cynthia Fralin Collection." This show runs through January 27, 2019.

In 2011, Heywood and Cynthia Fralin, major collectors of 19th- and early 20th- century American art, committed to making the largest gift of art in the University of Virginia’s history. The collection includes works by Georgia O’Keeffe, Mary Cassatt, Robert Henri, Reginald Marsh and many other notable artists of the period.

Shown below: Works by Jamie Wyeth, Thomas Hart Benton, and Stuart Davis.

The 2018 Shopping Season

11/22/2018

From our entertainment editor, Qwerty Lee Dickinson:

Get your wallets and credit cards out, it's time to start spending in the 2018 holiday Shopping Season!

Here are the dates to remember:

11/21: Gray Wednesday, Black Friday sales begin.
11/22: THANKSGETTING! Eat – and then shop till you drop! Door Buster sales start at different times throughout the evening. Check newspaper inserts for details.
11/23: Black Friday
11/24: Small Business Saturday
11/25: Mega-Mart Sunday
11/26: Cyber-Monday
11/27: Max-Out-Your-Cards Tuesday
11/28: 2nd Mortgage Wednesday
11/29: Chapter 11 Thursday
11/30: Black & Blue Friday
12/01: NSF Saturday
12/02: Destitute Sunday
12/03: Law-Away Monday
12/04: Lay-Awake Tuesday (To Worry All Night How You’re Going To Pay For All Of This Crap)
12/05: Keep Spending Wednesday
12/06: Squanderer Thursday
12/07: Reckless Spending Friday
12/08: Compulsive Shopping Saturday
12/09: Penniless Sunday (So Apply For New Credit Cards)
12/10: ATM Max-Out Monday
12/11: Take Out Loans Tuesday
12/12 – 23: The Twelve Days of Shopping Till Christmas Eve Extravaganza
12/24: Last Minute Shopping To Pick Up Gifts For The Wife

We Ho-Ho-Hope you get to the stores early enough to qualify for great door-buster deals!

To get you in the mood for Thanksgetting shopping -- after you consume your weight in turkey and candied yams -- here's a Thanksgiving poem by Emmett Lee Dickinson (below on the left). His poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "So has a Daisy vanished" (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

So has a Turkey vanished
From the plates today –
So entered many a diner
To Paradise they say –

Oozed so in flannel PJs
Day’s deserving nap –
Burping – stretching – snoring
Tomorrow we will Shop!

By Emily Dickinson:

So has a Daisy vanished
From the fields today –
So tiptoed many a slipper
To Paradise away –

Oozed so in crimson bubbles
Day's departing tide –
Blooming – tripping – flowing
Are ye then with God?

In other holiday news, here's an exclusive look at the White House's Christmas decorations and Christmas cards.

Below: Once again, Melanie Trump has decorated the White House in a hellish landscape:

Below: The first family's official holiday cards feature Donald as "Trumpus," his favorite Christmas character, and Melanie:

Electoral Clown College

11/20/2018

From our current affairs editor, Lemuel Stuart III:

Evidently the 2016 Electoral College was really the Electoral Clown College -- the Trump Circus won and continues to this day.

As a result, the world is laughing at us. People in Finland are mocking us with pictures of Finnish raking squads.

In other news, Trump scorned the Navy seal team that brought down Osama bin Laden, and Ivanka is conducting official government business with her personal email.

When will this clown show end?

Hmm. With the recent Blue Tidal Wave in congress, maybe this will all end sooner than later?

Of course, all of this calls to mind Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem, "On this long storm a Blue Wave rose" (below on the left). His poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "On this long storm the Rainbow rose" (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

On this long storm a Blue Wave rose –
On this late month – we won –
The Clowns – like feckless Elephants –
Ineptly – struggled on –

The Rest rose smiling, in their beds –
The votes – indeed were won –
Rejoice, how needful was the prize –
On whom the wave crashed down!

The energizing draw of breath –
At Daybreak – was robust –
The blue – Resistance principles
Did awaken us!

By Emily Dickinson:

On this long storm the Rainbow rose –
On this late morn – the sun –
The Clouds – like listless Elephants –
Horizons – straggled down –

The Birds rose smiling, in their nests –
The gales – indeed were done –
Alas, how heedless were the eyes –
On whom the summer shone!

The quiet nonchalance of death –
No Daybreak – can bestir –
The slow – Archangel’s syllables
Must awaken her!