In my post on July 14th, I shared a portion from a letter to Thomas Wentworth Higginson in the spring of 1886 where Emily Dickinson stated, “I have been very ill, Dear friend, since November, bereft of Book and Thought, by the Doctor's reproof, but begin to roam in my Room now - ”
Dickinson died that spring, on May 15, 1886, at the age of 55. However, before her death, she dispatched two more letters to Higginson – one in late April 1886 and one in early May 1886.
At some point before, Higginson had written to Dickinson to inform her of the death of their mutual friend, Helen Hunt Jackson. Higginson must have stated that his tribute to her, a sonnet entitled “To the Memory of H. H.,” had been printed in the May issue of Century Magazine – and the letter from Dickinson to Higginson I had previously mentioned suggests that she had received from him a transcript of his sonnet in advance of publication.
Dickinson died that spring, on May 15, 1886, at the age of 55. However, before her death, she dispatched two more letters to Higginson – one in late April 1886 and one in early May 1886.
At some point before, Higginson had written to Dickinson to inform her of the death of their mutual friend, Helen Hunt Jackson. Higginson must have stated that his tribute to her, a sonnet entitled “To the Memory of H. H.,” had been printed in the May issue of Century Magazine – and the letter from Dickinson to Higginson I had previously mentioned suggests that she had received from him a transcript of his sonnet in advance of publication.
 | Dickinson’s penultimate letter to Higginson (April 1886) stated, “The beautiful Sonnet confirms me-Thank you for confiding it,” and then she shared a short poem: The immortality she gave We borrowed at her Grave- For just one Plaudit famishing, The Might of Human Love- |
Her final letter to Higginson in May 1886, just days before her own death, included just two lines:
Deity-does He live now?
My friend-does he breathe?
Evidently, on April 30, 1886, the Boston correspondent for the Springfield Republican reported that Higginson was to have read at a Browning Society meeting but was prevented by illness from doing so. That report evidently elicited that final message.
Here are links to the letters: The first letter mentioned from the spring of 1886 is HERE. Dickinson's penultimate letter to Higginson from April 1886 is HERE. Her final letter to Higginson is HERE.
Deity-does He live now?
My friend-does he breathe?
Evidently, on April 30, 1886, the Boston correspondent for the Springfield Republican reported that Higginson was to have read at a Browning Society meeting but was prevented by illness from doing so. That report evidently elicited that final message.
Here are links to the letters: The first letter mentioned from the spring of 1886 is HERE. Dickinson's penultimate letter to Higginson from April 1886 is HERE. Her final letter to Higginson is HERE.
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