April Fools' Day is linked directly to Emmett Lee Dickinson, Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request. Here's the story in a CNN news feature:
One of Dickinson's now-classic poems is all about April Fool's Day, "The first of April had come" (below on the left). His poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "The first Day's Night had come" (below on the right).
| By Emmett Lee Dickinson: The first of April had come – And grateful for the thing Some mischievous – to be endured – It got my Soul to sing – With normalcy I'd act – And go – about my way And so to trick them – gave me work Throughout the playful Day – And then – a Prank as huge As ones from prior years, Unrolled it's humor in my face – Until it blurred my eyes – My brain – begun to laugh – I mumbled – April fool – And tho' 'tis Years ago – that Day – My Brain keeps giggling – still. And Something's odd – with me – For this is what I wish – That every day – were April Fools – Could it be Madness – this? | By Emily Dickinson: The first Day's Night had come – And grateful that a thing So terrible – had been endured – I told my Soul to sing – She said her Strings were snapt – Her Bow – to Atoms blown – And so to mend her – gave me work Until another Morn – And then – a Day as huge As Yesterdays in pairs, Unrolled its horror in my face – Until it blocked my eyes – My Brain – begun to laugh – I mumbled – like a fool – And tho' 'tis Years ago – that Day – My Brain keeps giggling – still. And Something's odd – within – That person that I was – And this One – do not feel the same – Could it be Madness – this? |
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