The time has come the old man said
To talk of many things –
Of poetry and Dickinson
And news my email brings!
Yes, I FINALLY heard back from someone at the Poetry Foundation about an issue I’ve been emailing (and calling) about for months. LOL – I almost fell over when I saw that I’d been contacted!
Here’s the background:
Emily Dickinson never published any of her poetry during her lifetime – except for a handful of poems submitted to various publications by friends and her sister-in-law – and all of those were published anonymously. Plus, she did not number her poems.
The first publication of selected poems came out posthumously, and that was in 1890. Following that, other volumes – again, of selected poems -- came out in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
It was not until 1955 that Thomas Johnson compiled and published a volume of the “complete poems” of Dickinson, and he numbered the poems from earliest to latest. Then in 1998, R. W. Franklin revisited Dickinson’s “complete works,” and he published an updated volume of her works – and his numbering system differed from Johnson’s.
Sooo…most people, when reading Dickinson, refer to the poems by their “Johnson” numbers or by their “Franklin” numbers. For example, “Because I could not stop for Death,” is number 712 in Johnson, and it is number 479 in Franklin.
That brings me to Dickinson’s poem “It sifts from leaden sieves,” a poem about snowfall.
Interestingly, five different versions of this poem exist, and one five-stanza version is included of Johnson’s compilation as number 311, and a different three-stanza version appears in Franklin’s work as number 291. The only thing the two poems share is the first stanza.
Okay, so this is where the Poetry Foundation comes in: The have the five-stanza version of the poem (Johnson 311), but they have it listed with the Franklin number, 291 (the three-stanza version of the poem). I contacted them on multiple/many occasions about this discrepancy, and they NEVER responded – until now. I received an email from a Digital Archivist at the Foundation.
So what did he say? And why the discrepancy with the numbers? More on all of this tomorrow.
To talk of many things –
Of poetry and Dickinson
And news my email brings!
Yes, I FINALLY heard back from someone at the Poetry Foundation about an issue I’ve been emailing (and calling) about for months. LOL – I almost fell over when I saw that I’d been contacted!
Here’s the background:
Emily Dickinson never published any of her poetry during her lifetime – except for a handful of poems submitted to various publications by friends and her sister-in-law – and all of those were published anonymously. Plus, she did not number her poems.
The first publication of selected poems came out posthumously, and that was in 1890. Following that, other volumes – again, of selected poems -- came out in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
It was not until 1955 that Thomas Johnson compiled and published a volume of the “complete poems” of Dickinson, and he numbered the poems from earliest to latest. Then in 1998, R. W. Franklin revisited Dickinson’s “complete works,” and he published an updated volume of her works – and his numbering system differed from Johnson’s.
Sooo…most people, when reading Dickinson, refer to the poems by their “Johnson” numbers or by their “Franklin” numbers. For example, “Because I could not stop for Death,” is number 712 in Johnson, and it is number 479 in Franklin.
That brings me to Dickinson’s poem “It sifts from leaden sieves,” a poem about snowfall.
Interestingly, five different versions of this poem exist, and one five-stanza version is included of Johnson’s compilation as number 311, and a different three-stanza version appears in Franklin’s work as number 291. The only thing the two poems share is the first stanza.
Okay, so this is where the Poetry Foundation comes in: The have the five-stanza version of the poem (Johnson 311), but they have it listed with the Franklin number, 291 (the three-stanza version of the poem). I contacted them on multiple/many occasions about this discrepancy, and they NEVER responded – until now. I received an email from a Digital Archivist at the Foundation.
So what did he say? And why the discrepancy with the numbers? More on all of this tomorrow.
 |  |
CONTINUED...
To recap from yesterday: A complete edition of Dickinson’s poems was not published until 1955 by Thomas Johnson. R. W. Franklin then took a new look at her poetry, and published an updated “complete” version of her works in 1998.
When it comes to the poem “It sifts from Leaden Sieves,” there are 5 extrant versions. Johnson published a five-stanza version in his book, and it is number 311. Franklin published a different three-stanza version of the poem in his edition, and it is number 291.
The Poetry Foundation has the five-stanza version (Johnson) on their site, but they have it numbered 291 (Franklin).
Now, Franklin did mention all five versions of the poem in his Variorum edition of Dickinson’s poetry – and this Variorum edition collates all known variants of Dickinson’s poems along with Franklin’s notes – and all the variations and emendations are set side by side so that the reader can track how textual decisions were made by the poet.
Sooo…with “It sifts from Leaden Sieves,” all five version as are shown – but in his compilation of her “complete poems,” he published only the three-stanza version (291), different from Johnson’s five-stanza version (311) (the version shown on the Foundation’s site).
To recap from yesterday: A complete edition of Dickinson’s poems was not published until 1955 by Thomas Johnson. R. W. Franklin then took a new look at her poetry, and published an updated “complete” version of her works in 1998.
When it comes to the poem “It sifts from Leaden Sieves,” there are 5 extrant versions. Johnson published a five-stanza version in his book, and it is number 311. Franklin published a different three-stanza version of the poem in his edition, and it is number 291.
The Poetry Foundation has the five-stanza version (Johnson) on their site, but they have it numbered 291 (Franklin).
Now, Franklin did mention all five versions of the poem in his Variorum edition of Dickinson’s poetry – and this Variorum edition collates all known variants of Dickinson’s poems along with Franklin’s notes – and all the variations and emendations are set side by side so that the reader can track how textual decisions were made by the poet.
Sooo…with “It sifts from Leaden Sieves,” all five version as are shown – but in his compilation of her “complete poems,” he published only the three-stanza version (291), different from Johnson’s five-stanza version (311) (the version shown on the Foundation’s site).
| Of course, the Variorum is available for purchase (I checked online at my favorite indie bookstore, and the price was $195.00) – so (obviously) most people don’t have the Franklin Variorum edition in their homes. However, most readers of poetry would have a Franklin (or Johnson) edition of Dickinson’s poetry – and that’s where the confusion arises: The Poetry Foundation has Johnson’s version of the poem, but Franklin’s number. More on this tomorrow! |  For more information on Franklin's Variorum edition of Dickinson's poetry, click HERE. |
| CONTINUED... Sooo…schools have opened here, I worked all week as a sub (OY…and my feet are feeling it), & I came home & our power was out! We ran off to a local Mexican restaurant, drank & ate, returned home — and the power is still out! So I’m typing this post with one finger on my phone — so not the easiest task — but most of this will actually be a “copy & paste” post. |  |  |
I’ve been writing lately about an issue with a Dickinson post on the Poetry Foundation site, and I FINALLY heard from someone at the Foundation
Here’s some of what he said…
“ I'm sorry to hear that you've had trouble reaching us.
I've looked into this a bit and want to make sure I'm seeing what you're seeing. The version of the poem that was reprinted in the archive is cited as from the Franklin Variorum Edition, Harvard UP, 1998.
I took a photo of this poem printed in that edition, and it is correctly titled and numbered using version A of the poem (the earliest, sent in a letter in 1862); see the photo attached. As far as I can tell, it's all cited and reproduced correctly, but please let me know if I'm missing information about this poem's provenance (I'm not a Dickinson scholar).
Since Dickinson poems exist in many versions, do you think it would be helpful o readers for me to add a note that this version of the poem appeared in a letter from 1862?
I'm happy to help clarify that in the citation info. You might have seen the link in the footer to a blog post I wrote about Dickinson and punctuation; we get questions about her work often, and context can always be added.”
Earlier this week I responded:
"“OMG -- thank you so much for emailing me! I've sent in many messages (via the PF's ‘contact us’ feature on the website) emails, phone calls, Ig DMs, etc. -- and I never received any sort of response!
I was able to glance over what you wrote -- and I'll look at it again this weekend and then respond. Currently, I'm getting ready for schools to open tomorrow (I'm a retired principal, and I help at two local middle schools -- so I'm just getting things in order for tomorrow and the rest of the week).
If interested, you can read my (humorous) take on all of this --HERE.
“ I'm sorry to hear that you've had trouble reaching us.
I've looked into this a bit and want to make sure I'm seeing what you're seeing. The version of the poem that was reprinted in the archive is cited as from the Franklin Variorum Edition, Harvard UP, 1998.
I took a photo of this poem printed in that edition, and it is correctly titled and numbered using version A of the poem (the earliest, sent in a letter in 1862); see the photo attached. As far as I can tell, it's all cited and reproduced correctly, but please let me know if I'm missing information about this poem's provenance (I'm not a Dickinson scholar).
Since Dickinson poems exist in many versions, do you think it would be helpful o readers for me to add a note that this version of the poem appeared in a letter from 1862?
I'm happy to help clarify that in the citation info. You might have seen the link in the footer to a blog post I wrote about Dickinson and punctuation; we get questions about her work often, and context can always be added.”
Earlier this week I responded:
"“OMG -- thank you so much for emailing me! I've sent in many messages (via the PF's ‘contact us’ feature on the website) emails, phone calls, Ig DMs, etc. -- and I never received any sort of response!
I was able to glance over what you wrote -- and I'll look at it again this weekend and then respond. Currently, I'm getting ready for schools to open tomorrow (I'm a retired principal, and I help at two local middle schools -- so I'm just getting things in order for tomorrow and the rest of the week).
If interested, you can read my (humorous) take on all of this --HERE.
| In the attached pic (shown at the right), I'm treating myself to a 'Homer Simpson Donut' at Philz Coffee -- just down the street from the Foundation. I visit Chicago at least once a year, so next time I'm there, I'll pop in and deliver to you a donut like that and a coffee (if you're a coffee drinker). You have earned it (and I'll bring one for Mr. Antos too). LOL.” He responded just last night: “ No problem, and thanks for the offer of the donut and coffee! I appreciate it, and I'm sure Jonathan would, too. Happy beginning of the school year!” As Bogart once said (in “Casablanca”), “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” I’ll fill you in once I get a chance to respond to him! |  |
CONTINUED...
What I’ve been writing about the last few days has to do with ”It sifts from leaden sieves”, Dickinson’s poem shown on the Poetry Foundation’s site as the 5-stanza version of the work in Johnson’s edition of “complete poems” numbered 311– although it’s numbered 291, a very different 3-stanza version of the poem that appears in Franklin’s edition of “complete poems.”
Sooo…it turns out that back on August 5th, I heard from the Executive Director of the Emily Dickinson Museum – before I ever heard back from anyone at the Poetry Foundation – but after three emails inquiring about this matter; just FYI: the first e-mail to her was sent on May 30th. No response until my second follow up/third e-mail.
On August 5th she stated, “Since this website (i.e., the Poetry Foundation’s site) is not maintained by the Emily Dickinson Museum, I confess that I didn't at first think it wise for the Museum to add to this discussion.” Okay– I think an email back in May would have been nice – but hey – I did finally hear something.
“However,’ she added, “I believe there's a simple explanation for the numerical identification of ‘It sifts from Leaden Sieves':
The three-volume 1998 Variorum edition of Ralph Franklin's Poems contains five variants of this poem. Version A is one sent to Susan Dickinson in 1862. This is the version that appears on the PF website, and it seems quite proper to present variant A to its readers.
Variant E, sent in 1883 to Thomas Niles, includes only the three quatrains that appear in Franklin's 1998 Reading edition. (You'll notice the letter "E" next to the number "291" on page 129 in that edition identifying it as one of several versions of the poem.) Variants A, B, C, D, E appear in Volume 1, pages 311-314 in the Variorum edition.
The variants can be a little tricky, but in themselves open up a fascinating window into Dickinson's creative practices.”
Below is a pic of 291 in Franklin, and you can see the “E” over by the number. I’ve also included a copy fo the note – which isn’t all that clear – but it is what it is!
What I’ve been writing about the last few days has to do with ”It sifts from leaden sieves”, Dickinson’s poem shown on the Poetry Foundation’s site as the 5-stanza version of the work in Johnson’s edition of “complete poems” numbered 311– although it’s numbered 291, a very different 3-stanza version of the poem that appears in Franklin’s edition of “complete poems.”
Sooo…it turns out that back on August 5th, I heard from the Executive Director of the Emily Dickinson Museum – before I ever heard back from anyone at the Poetry Foundation – but after three emails inquiring about this matter; just FYI: the first e-mail to her was sent on May 30th. No response until my second follow up/third e-mail.
On August 5th she stated, “Since this website (i.e., the Poetry Foundation’s site) is not maintained by the Emily Dickinson Museum, I confess that I didn't at first think it wise for the Museum to add to this discussion.” Okay– I think an email back in May would have been nice – but hey – I did finally hear something.
“However,’ she added, “I believe there's a simple explanation for the numerical identification of ‘It sifts from Leaden Sieves':
The three-volume 1998 Variorum edition of Ralph Franklin's Poems contains five variants of this poem. Version A is one sent to Susan Dickinson in 1862. This is the version that appears on the PF website, and it seems quite proper to present variant A to its readers.
Variant E, sent in 1883 to Thomas Niles, includes only the three quatrains that appear in Franklin's 1998 Reading edition. (You'll notice the letter "E" next to the number "291" on page 129 in that edition identifying it as one of several versions of the poem.) Variants A, B, C, D, E appear in Volume 1, pages 311-314 in the Variorum edition.
The variants can be a little tricky, but in themselves open up a fascinating window into Dickinson's creative practices.”
Below is a pic of 291 in Franklin, and you can see the “E” over by the number. I’ve also included a copy fo the note – which isn’t all that clear – but it is what it is!
 |  |
I’m going to get back to the archivist at the Foundation and suggest a note be added to the their site to clear up and possible confusion – so more on this later! ;-)
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