Two days ago I searched the online Dickinson archive for any poems with the word “substitute.” There was one: “The Future never spoke.” Click HERE.
That poem called to mind Dickens’ silent specter of Death in “A Christmas Carol” and another character of Death (though a speaking one) in a very short story by Somerset Maugham.
That poem called to mind Dickens’ silent specter of Death in “A Christmas Carol” and another character of Death (though a speaking one) in a very short story by Somerset Maugham.
| Then yesterday, as I was re-reading Dickinson’s poem and posting Maugham’s story, I thought of the “Spinner of Years” in Thomas Hardy’s extremely eerie poem about the building and sinking of the Titanic – another work where the Future dutifully executed Fate’s (always timely) telegram. Hardy’s poem is HERE. Hmm…did Dickinson ever use the word “titanic” in any of her poetry? I’ll look into that tomorrow. |  |
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