Based on the events from yesterday, I checked the online Dickinson archive to see if Dickinson ever used the word “President” in any of her poems — and surprisingly, one poem (from two entries) popped up, “All that I do.”
However, when I checked the poem, the word “President” was not used in it at all; instead, the archive’s search feature focused on “presid…” and offered up the one poem by Dickinson that includes the word “preside” (I ran a search on “preside” just to double check, and yes, only the one poem came up).
Click the images to enlarge:
However, when I checked the poem, the word “President” was not used in it at all; instead, the archive’s search feature focused on “presid…” and offered up the one poem by Dickinson that includes the word “preside” (I ran a search on “preside” just to double check, and yes, only the one poem came up).
Click the images to enlarge:
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So “president” was not used in the poem — but what a strange and appropriate little poem to have popped up! One that focuses on a woman’s role in society — to become a bride — only to be treated and regarded almost as if she were the property of her husband?
FYI: it wasn’t even until about 1900 that every state had passed legislation modeled after New York's Married Women's Property Act granting married women the right to keep their own wages and to own property in their own name.
Even today — as in 2016 — I’ve seen social media posts state nonsense like “are we ready for a woman president.”
But back to that poem — it starts in first person, “All that I do” — and everything she does is under review — but the poem later shifts to third person, “What omnipresence lies in wait / For her to be a bride.”
And who is the male figure who seems to “preside” over all she does? A “lover” (i.e. the possible groom) — or God — pushing her into her societal role?
And what sort of relationship is this any way — an “enamored mind” — but one who is “pushing”?
Interestingly, while i was exploring this poem, I stumbled upon this link:
So check that out — read the poem again — and let me know your thoughts!
FYI: it wasn’t even until about 1900 that every state had passed legislation modeled after New York's Married Women's Property Act granting married women the right to keep their own wages and to own property in their own name.
Even today — as in 2016 — I’ve seen social media posts state nonsense like “are we ready for a woman president.”
But back to that poem — it starts in first person, “All that I do” — and everything she does is under review — but the poem later shifts to third person, “What omnipresence lies in wait / For her to be a bride.”
And who is the male figure who seems to “preside” over all she does? A “lover” (i.e. the possible groom) — or God — pushing her into her societal role?
And what sort of relationship is this any way — an “enamored mind” — but one who is “pushing”?
Interestingly, while i was exploring this poem, I stumbled upon this link:
So check that out — read the poem again — and let me know your thoughts!
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