Houston, we have a problem: Earlier this morning I typed this up (the next three paragraphs):
Yesterday I posted Dickinson’s “How much the present moment means” as well as a quote by Nabokov (from “Lolita”), “Life is just one small piece of light between two eternal darknesses.”
As an atheist (and in agreement with Nabokov), I can certainly understand why the present moment means so much, but the tone of Dickinson’s poem is a bit smug in that she lumps atheists together with Fops and Carps. I think she’s got the wrong impression about atheists (along with many, many other people whom I see posting on social media platforms like Threads and others).
Of course, were I to sit for a chat with Dickinson she’d likely think I have the wrong impression on her spiritual outlook. However, I will say that I found a very interesting article that discusses both Dickinson’s spiritual outlook and this particular poem (among others).
Yesterday I posted Dickinson’s “How much the present moment means” as well as a quote by Nabokov (from “Lolita”), “Life is just one small piece of light between two eternal darknesses.”
As an atheist (and in agreement with Nabokov), I can certainly understand why the present moment means so much, but the tone of Dickinson’s poem is a bit smug in that she lumps atheists together with Fops and Carps. I think she’s got the wrong impression about atheists (along with many, many other people whom I see posting on social media platforms like Threads and others).
Of course, were I to sit for a chat with Dickinson she’d likely think I have the wrong impression on her spiritual outlook. However, I will say that I found a very interesting article that discusses both Dickinson’s spiritual outlook and this particular poem (among others).
| Okay, here’s the problem: I got busy during the day, never finished this post – and now I’ve lost the article. Hmm…I found one that I thought was it – but alas, no – wrong article (although that one led me to an article to read later entitled, “Emily Dickinson’s Joke about Death” – can’t wait to see what that one’s about). Sooo…hang tight for now. I’m going to see if I can find that article again! |  |
One last bit before signing off – I will say that I LOVE that image in line 5 of this poem: “Upon a Moment’s shallow rim.”
CONTINUED...
Two days ago I posted Dickinson’s poem “How much the present moment means" (HERE), and then yesterday my plan was to re-visit the poem along with some info from an interesting article I found – but great googly moogly – I lost the link to the article!
I retraced my steps (i.e., my online searches) this morning, and callooh callay (or should I shout “Eureka!”) – I found it!
The article, written by someone named Glenn Hughes, is entitled “Love, Terror, and Transcendence in Emily Dickinson’s Poetry” (yikes – that’s some transition – from love to terror to transcendence – but at least it sounds like a happy ending!).
Side note: More on Glenn Hughes later. For now, back to the discussion of the poem.
Hughes approaches his inclusion of the poem by noting “the only spiritual comfort her honest assessment of her experiences of anguish will allow her is recognition of the fact that, because the purpose of conscious participation in divine transcendence is impenetrable to human understanding, our experiences of both suffering and love in this life may (italicized) hold an ultimate meaning in the economy of human-divine participation that, for now, we cannot surmise.”
Hughes adds this: Dickinson’s “credo of ignorance, and the utmost she can manage of cautious hope, is nowhere better distilled than in lines written in a letter to her cousins about the death of her mother, only four years before Dickinson’s own death” – and these are Dickinson’s lines:
“She slipped from our fingers like a flake gathered by the wind, and is now part of the drift called ‘the infinite.’
We don’t know where she is, though many tell us.
I believe we shall in some manner be cherished by our Maker – that the One who gave us this remarkable earth has the power still farther to surprise that which He has caused. Beyond that all is silence…”
Hughes states that these lines “make clear” Dickinson’s “principal spiritual allegiance” – and I’ve included his concluding paragraphs below – which then ended with Dickinson’s poem “Faith is the pierless bridge.”
Click the images below to enlarge.
Two days ago I posted Dickinson’s poem “How much the present moment means" (HERE), and then yesterday my plan was to re-visit the poem along with some info from an interesting article I found – but great googly moogly – I lost the link to the article!
I retraced my steps (i.e., my online searches) this morning, and callooh callay (or should I shout “Eureka!”) – I found it!
The article, written by someone named Glenn Hughes, is entitled “Love, Terror, and Transcendence in Emily Dickinson’s Poetry” (yikes – that’s some transition – from love to terror to transcendence – but at least it sounds like a happy ending!).
Side note: More on Glenn Hughes later. For now, back to the discussion of the poem.
Hughes approaches his inclusion of the poem by noting “the only spiritual comfort her honest assessment of her experiences of anguish will allow her is recognition of the fact that, because the purpose of conscious participation in divine transcendence is impenetrable to human understanding, our experiences of both suffering and love in this life may (italicized) hold an ultimate meaning in the economy of human-divine participation that, for now, we cannot surmise.”
Hughes adds this: Dickinson’s “credo of ignorance, and the utmost she can manage of cautious hope, is nowhere better distilled than in lines written in a letter to her cousins about the death of her mother, only four years before Dickinson’s own death” – and these are Dickinson’s lines:
“She slipped from our fingers like a flake gathered by the wind, and is now part of the drift called ‘the infinite.’
We don’t know where she is, though many tell us.
I believe we shall in some manner be cherished by our Maker – that the One who gave us this remarkable earth has the power still farther to surprise that which He has caused. Beyond that all is silence…”
Hughes states that these lines “make clear” Dickinson’s “principal spiritual allegiance” – and I’ve included his concluding paragraphs below – which then ended with Dickinson’s poem “Faith is the pierless bridge.”
Click the images below to enlarge.
 |  |
 |  | The complete article is HERE. |
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