Death by Chocolate?

In the 1800s, the celebration of Easter was at best, unsettling, and at worst, a bit violent. One can tell from the vintage Easter postcards on this page that Easter festivities in the past were strange to say the least! Click the images to enlarge.

Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) was horrified by the way Easter traditions were progressing, so he advanced new practices to temper the aggressive nature of the holiday's "merriment."

In his campaign to improve the conditions of Easter observances, Dickinson would often point to his now-classic poem, "Victory is chocolate" (below on the left).  In addition to inspiring more appropriate Easter customs, Dickinson's poem also inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem, "Victory comes late" (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
 
Victory is chocolate –
And is held close to longing lips –
So rapt with joy
To take it –
How sweet it’s always tasted –
Just a Drop –
But Don’t be economical!
Spread the Table too wide for Us –
So We can dine on bonbons –
Sweets – for such yearning mouths –
Nougats – and Caramels –
With Even more for morning Breakfast –
​     Then –
Do you have Some to spare? Oh –
For those who Love – and still need more –

By Emily Dickinson:
 
Victory comes late –
And is held low to freezing lips –
Too rapt with frost
To take it –
How sweet it would have tasted –
Just a Drop –
Was God so economical?
His Table's spread too high for Us –
Unless We dine on tiptoe –
Crumbs – fit such little mouths –
Cherries – suit Robbins –
The Eagle's Golden Breakfast strangles –
​     Them –
God keep His Oath to Sparrows –
Who of little Love – know how to starve –