Third cousins Emmett Lee and Emily Dickinson had a volatile relationship, and one of the more famous blow-ups between the two occurred when Emily asked Emmett Lee to read her poem "One need not be a Chamber -- to be Haunted." The poem opens with these four lines:
One need not be a Chamber – to be Haunted –
One need not be a House –
The Brain has Corridors – surpassing
Material Place –
Emmett Lee was incensed that Emily "rhymed" the word "house" with "place" -- and later in the poem she rhymed "least" with "most."
"That's not poetry," he bellowed. "Those are just words."
Not longer after the quarrel, Emmett Lee Dickinson enlisted the help of other poets from around the country, and he formed an organization called "POETBUSTERS," a group dedicated to help struggling versifiers, lyricists and poets find "the right rhyme -- every time."
As a result, the first "Ghostbusters" movie was going to be called "Poetbusters," and Bill Murray was going to play Emmett Lee Dickinson. The premise changed, though, when writer Harold Ramis -- a fan of Emmett Lee Dickinson's life and work -- suggested that they change the story to one based on an Emmett Lee Dickinson poem called "There is an hour when shrieking starts" (below on the left). Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "There comes an hour when begging stops" (below on the right).
By Emmett Lee Dickinson: There comes an hour when shrieking starts, When the long disbelieving ears Perceive that something’s odd. “Ghostbusters” is the kind of word That never disappoints when Heard “Who ya gonna call?” | By Emily Dickinson: There comes an hour when begging stops, When the long interceding lips Perceive their prayer is vain. "Thou shalt not" is a kinder sword Than from a disappointing God "Disciple, call again." |