The Debate about The Dress

By now we suspect you've seen the dress.  Did you see white and gold?  Or did you see black and blue? 

Just yesterday (February 26, 2015) a picture of "the dress" was posted online, and within twenty-four hours the internet exploded.  The debate about the color of the dress spread world-wide, and the dress was featured on morning and evening news broadcasts as well as the 24/7 cable news channels.

However, the debate and the dress are nothing new.  No, instead, the debate about "the dress" began way back in 1857 when Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) was inspired to write a poem after he saw his third cousin's favorite dress as both white -- and blue!

Pictured above:  One of the many tweets that flooded the Internet on February 26th about "the dress."


Pictured at the right:  The debate about "the dress" began in 1857 when Emmett Lee Dickinson saw his third cousin Emily Dickinson in her favorite dress.  In certain light, the dress looked white.  However, at  other times the dress looked blue. 

The mystery of the color of the dress inspired Dickinson to write a poem about a peculiarly colored dress.  The poem, "The Dress is gold and snowy," inspired third-cousin Emily to write "The Guest is gold and crimson."

Both poems are below.

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
 
The Dress is gold and snowy –
But Others guess and say –
Of black and blue the garment –
And Prolong the fray –
 
It’s placed online at nightfall –
Then stops at every door –
With viral looks by morning
I view it too – and swore
The Frock’s pure intensity’s –
Not what it was before!

By Emily Dickinson:
 
The Guest is gold and crimson --
An Opal guest,  and gray --
Of ermine is his doublet --
His Capuchin gay --

He reaches town at nightfall --
He stops at every door --
Who looks for him at morning
I pray him too — explore
The Lark's pure territory --
Or the Lapwing's shore!

Pictured below:  White and gold?  Black and blue?  The controversy about "the dress" took an odd turn in 2008 just before the U.S. presidential election.  At that time the debate shifted to "the address" of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.