I have a friend whose birthday is January 2nd, and he calls it “the one day of the year nobody wants to party.” LOL.
Of course, February 2nd is Groundhog Day.
Is March 2nd anything?
Oh, yes – it is! I almost forgot that March 2nd is “Read Across America Day” which honors the birth date of Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss (and cat lovers will rejoice in the fact that March 2nd is International Rescue Cat Day).
In honor of March 2nd – and all of March to be sure – I’ve posted below Emily Dickinson’ wonderful tribute to the month, “Dear March – Come in.”
The entire poem is what is called an “apostrophe,” a literary device in which the speaker of the poem addresses either an absent person or a non-human object or idea, – and in addressing “March,” that 6th line is so cool: “How out of Breath you are.” What a great way to depict the windy days of the onset of spring. And I love the fact that March is such an intimate friend that Dickinson invites the month up to her room – “I have so much to tell.”
I love that second stanza, especially...
*I got your Letter, and the Birds--
* The Maples never knew that you were coming--
I declare — how Red their Faces grew--
* And all those Hills you left for me to Hue--
The opening to the third stanza is so perfect: “Who knocks? That April— / Lock the Door— / I will not be pursued—.” That “I will not be pursued” makes me smile every time I read it!
What do you love about this poem?