Dickinson's Shot

From our entertainment editor, Qwerty Lee Dickinson:

In a recent interview in GQ magazine, Lin-Manuel Miranda confirmed what many in the world of poetry already know, that the inspiration for “Hamilton: An American Musical” was the life and work of Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed – at her request).
 
Miranda fell in love with Dickinson’s poetry when he attended the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Washington Heights in New York City. 

Pictured at the left:  GQ Magazine featured an interview with Lin-Manuel Miranda. 

Pictured below:  The Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Washington Heights.

“Dickinson’s poetry changed my life,” Miranda told GQ,  ”and Dickinson’s life, like the history of America itself, is a story of ingenuity, sacrifice, and hard work.”
 
At first, Miranda’s mega-hit  “Hamilton” was to be called “Dickinson,” and it was a straight-forward retelling of his life; however, that all changed after he saw a TV ad for Golden Chick fried chicken in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
 
“The ad had a colonial theme, and two Minute-men were eating chicken,” said Miranda.  “It was then and there that the  power of story and metaphor hit me, and I realized that I could tell the story of Dickinson through an account of Alexander Hamilton.”

Pictured below:  A colonial-themed TV commercial for Golden Chick changed the direction for "Dickinson: An American Musical."

​He said that he remembered one of his favorite poems by Dickinson, “I wish I knew that poet’s name,” and that inspired him to write “Hamilton’s” opening song, “Alexander Hamilton.”
 
“Once I set the story in colonial America,” confessed Miranda, “the words just started flowing.  Everything worked.”

Below on the left:  Emmett Lee Dickinson's now-classic poem "I wish I knew that poet's name."  Below on the right:  Besides inspiring the opening song to "Hamilton," Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily Dickinson to pen her poem "I wish I knew that woman's name."

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
 
I wish I knew that poet's name
So when he goes his way,
I'll pause my life, and hold my ears,
In hope I hear him say
 
       The world's gonna know your name.
       What’s your name, man?”
 
       Emmett Lee Dickinson
       My name is Emmett Lee Dickinson
       And there’re a million poems I haven’t
              written
       But just you wait, just you wait –
 
I'm "sorry, pardon me," again,
With just myself to blame
I'll sob myself almost to sleep --
If I don't learn his name.
 
       The world's gonna know your name.
       What’s your name, man?”
 
       Emmett Lee Dickinson
       My name is Emmett Lee Dickinson
       And there’re a million poems I haven’t
            written
       But just you wait, just you wait –
 ​

​By Emily Dickinson:
 
I wish I knew that woman’s name,
So, when she comes this way,
To hold my life, and hold my ears,
For fear I hear her say
 
She’s “sorry I am dead”, again,
Just when the grave and I
Have sobbed ourselves almost to sleep –
Our only lullaby.

Below:  Before "Hamilton" was "Hamilton," Miranda's "American Musical" was called "Dickinson."

"Alexander Hamilton was the perfect stage representation for Emmett Lee Dickinson," said Miranda.  "Dickinson was just another immigrant comin’ up from the bottom.  Word got around, and people said, ‘This kid’s insane, man,’ and his enemies destroyed his rep.  America forgot him.”

“Well,” grinned Miranda, “’Hamilton’ will change all that.” 
​

To read about connections between Emmett Lee Dickinson and other Broadway shows,
​click HERE and HERE.