Did you know taht George Lucas, who attended the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Los Angeles, said that his original concept for "Star Wars" was to be called "Poetry Wars," a saga about the volatile relationship between third cousins Emmett Lee and Emily Dickinson?
The character known today as "Darth Vader" was originally conceived as Emmett Lee Dickinson (who always wore black in his later years), and "Princess Leia" was Emily Dickinson (who always wore white).
The tagline for the movie was to be "METAPHORS BE WITH YOU!"
Lucas said that two of his favorite poems by Dickinson inspired him to write the original story. One of the poems was "Because I could not stop for Darth," and the other one was "'Obi-Wan?' I do now need you" (both below on the left). Dickinson's poems inspired his third cousin Emily to right her poems "Because I could not stop for Death" and "'Unto Me?' I do not know you" (both below on the right).
By Emmett Lee Dickinson: Because I could not stop for Darth – He kindly stopped for me – The Death Star held but just Ourselves – And immortality. Through space we drove – He flew with haste, And I had put away My saber and my laser too, For His Toxicity – We passed Ice Planet Hoth, where Tauntaun strove Across – the windswept plains – We passed the Dagobah System – We passed eight Setting Suns – Or rather – They passed Us – The Dews drew quivering and chill – But heavy wool, my Jedi Robe – My Tunic – made of Twill – We paused before planet Alderaan An orbiting luminous Sphere – Its Land was scarcely visible – Its Future – filled with Fear – Since then – ‘tis episodes – and yet Feels shorter than the Film I first surmised Darth Vader’s Head Was toward Eternity – | 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 – |
By Emmett Lee Dickinson: “Obi-Wan?” I do now need you – Where may be your House? “I am Leia – Late of Polis Massa – Now – of Alderaan” – X-Wings – have you to convey me? This is far, far Away – “Arms I need – omniscient Jedi – Trust in the Force” – I’ve been spotted – “I need Help” – I am small – “At Least Be esteemed in the Force to help Me – You're my only Hope" – | By Emily Dickinson: "Unto Me?" I do not know you – Where may be your House? "I am Jesus – Late of Judea – Now – of Paradise" – Wagons – have you – to convey me? This is far from Thence – "Arms of Mine – sufficient Phaeton – Trust Omnipotence" – I am spotted – "I am Pardon" – I am small – "The Least Is esteemed in Heaven the Chiefest – Occupy my House" – |