A recent post of mine noted that among Emily Dickinson’s friends, the arrival of a letter from her was viewed as a “remarkable occasion.” Her letters were described as “so full of meaning and so poetical” and “little gems!” In my post on February 8th (HERE), I discussed a letter from Dickinson to Mabel Loomis Todd where Todd had celebrated its arrival with this entry in her diary:
“I shall always keep this odd note – so strong, so full of meaning and so poetical…. This letter made me happier than almost any other I have ever received. It fairly thrilled me!”
That note was indeed special, for it included what was to become one of Dickinson’s most famous poems. Here’s the story behind it:
Todd was the wife of an Amherst College astronomy professor, but she was also half the equation in a scandalous love affair with Emily’s brother Austin – twenty-seven years her senior. Emily and her sister knew of the affair – as did most of the town – as Mabel and Austin would often meet in the Dickinson home, the Homestead, for various interactions. Todd never met Dickinson, though. The two did speak, but always from a distance. Emily might stand at the landing of the top of the stairs, or perhaps she would speak to Todd from an adjoining room.
On one occasion, Todd painted a watercolor of the white woodland plant “Indian Pipe” (Monotropa uniflora) on a black, gilt-edged panel, and she sent it to Dickinson as a token of friendship. In response to the painting, Dickinson wrote this to Todd:
"That without suspecting it you should send me the preferred flower of life, seems almost supernatural, and the sweet glee that I felt at meeting it, I could confide to none. ...I know not how to thank you. We do not thank the Rainbow, although it's Trophy is a snare."
The complete letter is HERE.
Then, within the month, Dickinson sent this "gift" to Todd in return – the letter with the poem that thrilled her:
October 1882
Dear friend,
I cannot make an Indian Pipe but please accept a Humming Bird.
A Route of Evanescence
With a revolving Wheel -
A Resonance of Emerald -
A Rush of Cochineal -
And every Blossom on the Bush
Adjusts it's tumbled Head -
The mail from Tunis probably,
An easy Morning's Ride -
E. Dickinson.
By the way, in 1890, Todd used her painting as the cover of the first volume of Dickinson's poems, published posthumously.
There’s one last funny bit about Todd’s quote which I’ll share tomorrow.
“I shall always keep this odd note – so strong, so full of meaning and so poetical…. This letter made me happier than almost any other I have ever received. It fairly thrilled me!”
That note was indeed special, for it included what was to become one of Dickinson’s most famous poems. Here’s the story behind it:
Todd was the wife of an Amherst College astronomy professor, but she was also half the equation in a scandalous love affair with Emily’s brother Austin – twenty-seven years her senior. Emily and her sister knew of the affair – as did most of the town – as Mabel and Austin would often meet in the Dickinson home, the Homestead, for various interactions. Todd never met Dickinson, though. The two did speak, but always from a distance. Emily might stand at the landing of the top of the stairs, or perhaps she would speak to Todd from an adjoining room.
On one occasion, Todd painted a watercolor of the white woodland plant “Indian Pipe” (Monotropa uniflora) on a black, gilt-edged panel, and she sent it to Dickinson as a token of friendship. In response to the painting, Dickinson wrote this to Todd:
"That without suspecting it you should send me the preferred flower of life, seems almost supernatural, and the sweet glee that I felt at meeting it, I could confide to none. ...I know not how to thank you. We do not thank the Rainbow, although it's Trophy is a snare."
The complete letter is HERE.
Then, within the month, Dickinson sent this "gift" to Todd in return – the letter with the poem that thrilled her:
October 1882
Dear friend,
I cannot make an Indian Pipe but please accept a Humming Bird.
A Route of Evanescence
With a revolving Wheel -
A Resonance of Emerald -
A Rush of Cochineal -
And every Blossom on the Bush
Adjusts it's tumbled Head -
The mail from Tunis probably,
An easy Morning's Ride -
E. Dickinson.
By the way, in 1890, Todd used her painting as the cover of the first volume of Dickinson's poems, published posthumously.
There’s one last funny bit about Todd’s quote which I’ll share tomorrow.
Below left: Mabel Loomis Todd's painting of Indian Pipe, given as a gift to Emily Dickinson (more info HERE). Center: The first edition of Dickinson's "Poems" published posthumously by Todd. Right: Indian Pipe in Shenandoah National Park.
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