Deathly Things

​THE CRITICS AND THE POETESS

“The time has come," the Poet said,
   "To talk of deathly things:
Of suns – and schools – and carriages –
   Of recess in  – the ring –
And why my tippet’s merely tulle –
   And might a horse have wings?”

"But wait a bit," the Critics cried,
   "Before we have our chat;
Have you prepared enough for us
   For all of us are fat!"
"No worry” said the Poetess
   They thanked her much for that.

"A book of verse," the Poet said,
   "Is what you chiefly need:
It’s filled with news that nature told –
   A thoughtful book indeed –
Now, if you're ready, Critics dear,
   You can begin to feed.”

“But feed on this?” the Critics cried,
   Turning more than blue.
"You’ve fed us naught but folderol
   A dismal thing to do!"
"The lines don’t rhyme,” one Critic cried!
   "And what’s this tripe you spew?”

"It’s  such a shame," another said,
   "To serve up such a trick.
We’ve been led on and out too far,
   To read this rot so quick!"
The Poetess said nothing but –
   The public fanned her wick!

"The Critics & the Poetess" is, of course, a take-off on Lewis Carroll's "The Walrus & the Carpenter," found HERE. 

Two days ago, in a post entitled "For Your Review" (HERE), I shared excerpts from some of the early reviews from critics of Dickinson's poetry  -- all from 1890 to 1900.  

I did not include lines from one of the worst -- statements from Thomas Bailey Aldrich; I plan to get to him in the near future -- his review and some of his poetry.  Stay tuned!

The first stanza from "The Critics and the Poetess" alludes to Dickinson's poem "Because I could not stop for Death."

Below left:  "Because I could not stop for Death" as edited by Mabel Loomis Todd.  Below right:  The poem as written by Dickinson. 

The third stanza in "The Critics and the Poetess" makes reference to the third line from this poem by Dickinson:

The final stanza in "The Critics and the Poetess" makes reference to "the wicks" of poets in this poem: