Surely you’ve seen the movie “My Cousin Vinnie.” You remember that question the prosecuting attorney throws at Mona Lisa Vito to try to disqualify her as an expert witness?
It went like this:
It went like this:
Well, picture Emily Dickinson on the stand, and Mr. Trotter interrogates her:
Trotter: Now, uh, Ms. Dickinson, being an expert on your own poetry…how many poems did you write that used the word “February.”
Emily Dickinson: It’s a trick question.
Trotter: Does that mean you can’t answer it?
Emily Dickinson: No, it’s a trick question!
Trotter: Now, uh, Ms. Dickinson, being an expert on your own poetry…how many poems did you write that used the word “February.”
Emily Dickinson: It’s a trick question.
Trotter: Does that mean you can’t answer it?
Emily Dickinson: No, it’s a trick question!
Is it a trick question? How many poems did Dickinson write which include the word “February”?
Well, it is indeed a bit of a trick question. “February” does show up in three poems (“White as an Indian Pipe,” “Although I put away his life,” and “No Brigadier throughout the Year”); however, Dickinson always spelled the month as “Febuary,” not “February” (and various volumes of her poetry have retained her spelling of “Febuary”).
Sooo…on one hand, “zero” poems include “February” – but they do use the word “Febuary.” On the other hand, one could say that “three” poems include “February” ( it’s just that the name of the month is misspelled). Also, “A February Day,” line 6 in “No Brigadier throughout the Year” is actually “A January Day” in one variation of the poem sent to Dickinson’s sister-in-law Susan – so maybe the answer is “two” poems?
Well, it is indeed a bit of a trick question. “February” does show up in three poems (“White as an Indian Pipe,” “Although I put away his life,” and “No Brigadier throughout the Year”); however, Dickinson always spelled the month as “Febuary,” not “February” (and various volumes of her poetry have retained her spelling of “Febuary”).
Sooo…on one hand, “zero” poems include “February” – but they do use the word “Febuary.” On the other hand, one could say that “three” poems include “February” ( it’s just that the name of the month is misspelled). Also, “A February Day,” line 6 in “No Brigadier throughout the Year” is actually “A January Day” in one variation of the poem sent to Dickinson’s sister-in-law Susan – so maybe the answer is “two” poems?
| Anyway, below are the three poems which include “February.”  |  |
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