A Poem A Day

From our 19th century historian, Eudora Dickinson:

Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed – at her request) established March 21 as World Poetry Day in 1853 in honor of his mother’s birthday. 
 
Emmett Lee Dickinson was the thirteenth child and youngest son of Emalee Incross Dickinson, and she instilled a love of poetry in him.  She would always say, “A poem a day keeps the therapist at bay,” although her adage did not hold true for Emmett Lee.  Although he did read at least one poem per day, Dickinson was the subject of many psychoanalytical studies late in his life at Harvard Junior College in Washerst, PA, and Amherst College in Amherst, MA.
 
When he established World Poetry Day in 1853, he wrote his now classic poem “I read the Books” (below on the left).  In addition to inspiring countless millions to read poetry, his poem also motivated third cousin Emily to pen her poem “I robbed the Woods” (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
 
I read the Books –
The trusted Books.
The intense Poetry
Brought out their Words and meanings
My fantasy to please.
I scanned their topics curious – I gasped –
​     I stole away –
What mysteries could be Unlocked –
What did the Poet say?
​

By Emily Dickinson:
 
I robbed the Woods –
The trusting Woods.
The unsuspecting Trees
Brought out their Burs and mosses
My fantasy to please.
I scanned their trinkets curious – I grasped –
​     I bore away –
What will the solemn Hemlock –
What will the Oak tree say?
​

Pictured at the right:  The "Reserved Parking" sign at Amherst College's Psychology Department  is dedicated to Emmett Lee Dickinson due to the high number of psychological and psychoanalytical studies he was the subject of at he college.