The Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum
  • Home
    • About Us
    • ELDM Sponsors >
      • ALA
      • Ben & Jerry's
      • IKEA
      • NPR
    • FAQs
    • Featured Poems of the Week
    • Blackout Poetry
    • PLOG: Poetry Blog
    • Words of the Year >
      • Words of the Year 2023
      • Words of the Year 2022
      • Words of the Year 2021
      • Words of the Year 2020
      • Words of the Year 2019
      • Words of the Year 2018
      • Words of the Year 2017
      • Words of the Year 2016
      • Words of the Year 2015
      • Words of the Year 2014
      • Words of the Year 2013
    • Words to Song
    • Tripping >
      • From Washerst to Amherst
      • Chicagoetry
      • PoeTSBURGH >
        • PoetsBURGH: Part Duh!
      • Golden Gate Unabridged
      • New Mex I Go
      • North by Northeast >
        • The Baked Apple, Summer 2019
      • Tex-Mess, Summer 2017
      • The Walking Dread >
        • People In The Grave
      • Maine Character
      • Why Would We Visit Alabama? >
        • ALabandoned: State of Disrepair
      • Say Cheese!
      • South to Savannah
      • 65, Going On 66
    • "Tell It Straight" Award
  • Dickinson & His Family
    • Other Washerstians
    • Dickinson's Inventions
    • Dickinson & Science
  • Washerst, PA
    • Historic Washerst
    • Calendar of Events >
      • Valentine's Day: Feb 14
      • National Laundry Day: April 15
      • National Traffic Light Day
      • Cow Appreciation Day: July 15
      • National Relaxation Day: Aug 15
      • Comma-Con
      • Emmett Lee Dickinson's Birthday: Oct 12
      • National Candy Corn Day: Oct 30
      • Annual Deja Vu Days
    • Other Museums in Washerst
  • Great American Poems - REPOEMED
    • Gift Ideas
  • Special Exhibits
    • JANUARY >
      • Dickinson & The Beatles
      • Under the Influence
      • Dickinson Romances
    • FEBRUARY >
      • Coffee Poetry
      • Dickinson & Lincoln
      • Second Cup
      • Third Cup
      • Fourth Cup
      • Fifth Cup
      • Sixth Cup
      • Seventh Cup
      • Eighth Cup
      • Ninth Cup
      • Tenth Cup
      • Eleventh Cup
    • MARCH >
      • I'm Dickinson, He's Lichtenstein
      • Ben & Jerry's
      • Poetry is the Best Medicine
      • March Madness & Alfred Hitchcock
    • APRIL >
      • Broadway & Dickinson
      • American Poetry Month
      • The Poetry Hall of Fame
      • Broadway & Dickinson Pt 2
      • Poetic New Deal >
        • Poetic New Deal -- Part 2
        • Poetic New Deal -- Part 3
    • MAY >
      • The Wonders of Washerst
      • Poetry In Motion Pictures
      • Sprechen Sie Dichundsohn?
    • JUNE >
      • DickinsonLand
      • hyperBALLe: Sports & Poetry
      • What's The Buzz?
    • JULY >
      • The Purple Cow Poems >
        • How Now, Purple Cow?
      • Publish or Perish
      • Music To My Ears
    • AUGUST >
      • Influence on Literature
      • Nashburg, PA
      • Channeling Dickinson
    • SEPTEMBER >
      • Education Capital
      • East Meets Washerst
      • Poem & Circumstance
    • OCTOBER >
      • The DIKEAnssohns
      • Self Help
      • Soup Two Nuts
    • NOVEMBER >
      • Food Artwork
      • Re-Elect Dickinson
      • Haiku
    • DECEMBER >
      • Deflatable Festival
      • The Gift of Poetry
      • Happy Holidaze!
  • DOPE
    • 2013 DOPE Conference
    • 2014 DOPE Conference
    • 2015 DOPE Conference
    • 2016 DOPE Conference
    • 2017 DOPE Conference
    • 2018 DOPE Conference
    • 2019 DOPE Conference
    • 2020 DOPE Conference
    • 2021 DOPE Conference
  • DIED
    • DIED 1
    • DIED 2
  • In The News
  • Natl ReTweeting Month
  • Miscellany
    • Top 100 Events in Poetry
    • Helter-Shelter: Life In Quarantine
    • Word Count
    • Poetry Alerts
    • SUMMER ART WAVE
  • Gift Shop
  • Dating Sites
    • Couplets.com for Poets
    • DateDue for Librarians
  • Links

There Is A June When Corn Is Cut

11/5/2020

0 Comments

 
Here is the poem:

There is a June when Corn is cut
And Roses in the Seed 
–

A Summer briefer than the first
But tenderer indeed

As should a Face supposed the Grave's
Emerge a single Noon
In the Vermilion that it wore
Affect us, and return
–

Two Seasons, it is said, exist
–
The Summer of the Just,
And this of Ours, diversified
With Prospect, and with Frost
–

May not our Second with its First
So infinite compare
That We but recollect the one
The other to prefer?


Here are the lyrics I created for the song based on the poem:

There is a June when corn is cut
And Roses in the Seed –
A Summer briefer than the first
But tenderer indeed.
 
          Two seasons, it is said, exist –
          The Summer of the Just,
          And this of Ours, diversified
          With Prospect, and with Frost –
 
          May not our Second with its First
          So infinite compare
          That We be recollect the one
          The other to prefer?
 
As should a Face supposed the Grave’s
Emerge a single Noon
In the Vermillion that it wore
Affect us, and return –
 
          Two seasons, it is said, exist –
          The Summer of the Just,
          And this of Ours, diversified
          With Prospect, and with Frost –
 
          May not our Second with its First
          So infinite compare
          That We be recollect the one
          The other to prefer?



The music for the song is below.  Currently it's written in the style of a Fake Book with just the chords given -- no bass line.  One of these days I'll write in a bass line and update this music. 

 Click the images to enlarge.

PAGE 1
Picture
PAGE 2
Picture

Below is a video where I play the song on the piano -- BUT -- I don't sing, so the video is only of the music.  However, you can follow along with the words on the sheets of music above.
0 Comments

After Great Pain A Formal Feeling Comes

11/4/2020

0 Comments

 
Below is the music for an original song I wrote based on Emily Dickinson's poem "After great pain, a formal feeling comes."  With some of the songs I have written based on Dickinson's poems, I would alter a line or two here or there in order to fit the rhythm of the song, but in this case, the lyrics for the song are the exact words of the poem.
By Emily Dickinson:

After great pain, a formal feeling comes –
The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs –
The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore,
And Yesterday, or Centuries before?

The Feet, mechanical, go round –

Of Ground, or Air, or Ought –
A Wooden Way
Regardless grown,
A Quartz contentment, like a stone –

This is the Hour of Lead –
Remembered, if outlived,
As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow –
First – Chill – then Stupor – then the letting go –
PAGE 1
Picture
PAGE 2
Picture
PAGE 3
Picture








Below:
  A piano version of the song -- no singing.  Alas, I don't sing.  ; )
0 Comments

The Moon Was But A Chin Of Gold

11/2/2020

0 Comments

 
I used to teach English at the high school level, and one of my favorite poems to introduce to students  was Emily Dickinson's "The Moon was but a Chin of Gold."

Before I would share the poem with them, though, I would always project an image of a crescent moon on the board.  I would then ask them to suggest images that the moon could represent.  Of course, I would always get typical responses like  a canoe, a banana, a finger nail, a smile, and the letter "C."

I would then tell them that Emily Dickinson came up with an image of a crescent moon that no student had EVER guessed -- and then the students would try to come up with a few more guesses:  A comma.  A fish hook.  A hammock.  And so on.
​

Picture
Not once did anyone ever guess "a chin of gold" -- especially as part of a "perfect face" which ultimately turns upon the world below.  

The lesson was very simple, and it really got the students to start thinking of new ways to observe the world.

A few years ago, I wrote a song based on this poem, and the music is below.  I hope you like it.  
​

The poem:
​

By Emily Dickinson:

The Moon was but a Chin of Gold
A Night or two ago –
And now she turns Her perfect Face
Upon the World below –

Her Forehead is of Amplest Blonde –
Her Cheek – a Beryl hewn –
Her Eye unto the Summer Dew
The likest I have known –

Her Lips of Amber never part –
But what must be the smile
Upon Her Friend she could confer
Were such Her Silver Will –

And what a privilege to be
But the remotest Star –
For Certainty She take Her Way
Beside Your Palace Door –

Her Bonnet is the Firmament –
The Universe – Her Shoe –
The Stars – the Trinkets at Her Belt –
Her Dimities – of Blue –
The lyrics based on the poem:
​

The Moon was but a Chin of Gold
A Night or two ago
And now she turns Her perfect face
Upon the World below –
 
Her Forehead is amplest Blonde
Her cheek – a Beryl hewn –
Her Eye unto the Summer Dew
The likest I have known--
 
       And what a priv’lege to be
       But the remotest Star
       For Certainty she takes her way
       Beside your palace door
 
The Moon was but a Chin of Gold
A Night or two ago
And now she turns Her perfect face
Upon the World below –
 
Her bonnet’s the firmament
The Universe – Her shoe
The stars – the trinkets at her Belt
In her sea of blue
 
       And what a priv’lege to be
       But the remotest Star
       For Certainty she takes her way
       Beside your palace door
Click the images below to enlarge.
PAGE 1
Picture
PAGE 2
Picture
PAGE 3
Picture
0 Comments

The Sun Just Touched the Monring

11/2/2020

1 Comment

 
Quite a number of years ago, I wrote a song based on Emily Dickinson's poem "The Sun Just Touched the Morning," but I never actually wrote it down.  My notes for the song are really nothing but a bunch of chicken scratch. (see below on the right).  Today I sat at the piano and wrote it out, and I've posted it down below.

Here's the poem:

The Sun – just touched the Morning –
The Morning – Happy thing –
Supposed that He had come to dwell –
And Life would all be Spring!

She felt herself supremer –
A Raised – Ethereal Thing!
Henceforth – for Her – What Holiday!
Meanwhile – Her wheeling King –
Trailed – slow – along the Orchards –
His haughty – spangled Hems –
Leaving a new necessity!
The want of Diadems!

The Morning – fluttered – staggered –
Felt feebly – for Her Crown –
Her unanointed forehead –
Henceforth – Her only One!

Below: 
 When I say my notes were nothing but "chicken scratch," I wasn't joking:
Picture

Below is the music.  Click the images to enlarge.   Here are a couple of things to note:

     *  For the lyrics, I repeat the third and fourth lines of the poem.
     *  Also, from the seventh line, I repeat the words "for Her -- What Holiday!"
     *  For the eleventh line, I omitted the word "a" (so "Leaving a new necessity" is "Leaving new necessity). 
     *  I made a change with the music too -- you'll see that I've omitted the 13th bar of music on Page 1.
     *  I don't have a metronome to note the exact speed -- but play it slow to moderate.



Here are the complete lyrics:

The Sun – just touched the Morning –
The Morning – Happy thing –
Supposed that He had come to dwell –
And Life would all be Spring!
Supposed that He had come to dwell –
And Life would all be Spring!

She felt herself supremer –
A Raised – Ethereal Thing!
Henceforth – for Her – What Holiday!
For Her – What Holiday!

Meanwhile – Her wheeling King –
Trailed – slow – along the Orchards –
His haughty – spangled Hems –
Leaving new necessity!
The want of Diadems!

The Morning – fluttered – staggered –
Felt feebly – for Her Crown –
Her unanointed forehead –
Henceforth – Her only One!

​PAGE 1
Picture
Picture
Picture

As an introduction to the song in the video below, I played the first 8 measures an octave higher -- and then I played the song as written.. 
1 Comment

The Last Night That She Lived

11/1/2020

0 Comments

 
This song is based on Emily Dickinson's poem "The last Night that She lived."  The poems is below on the left, and the lyrics for the song -- based on the poem -- are on the right.
The last Night that She lived,
It was a Common Night,
Except the Dying – this to Us
Made Nature different

We noticed smallest things –
Things overlooked before
By this great light upon our Minds
Italicized –as 'twere.

As We went out and in
Between Her final Room
And Rooms where Those to be
were, a Blame

That others could exist
While She must finish quite
A Jealousy for Her arose
So nearly infinite –

We waited while she passed –
It was a narrow time –
Too jostled were Our Souls to speak
At length the notice came

She mentioned, and forgot –
Then lightly as a Reed
Bent to the Water, struggle scarce –
Consented, and was dead –

And We – We placed the Hair –
And drew the Head erect –
And then an awful leisure was
Belief to regulate –
The last Night that She lived
It was a Common Night
Except the Dying – this to Us
Made nature different
                                          
We noticed smallest things –
Things overlooked before
By this great light upon our Minds
Italicized – as it were.
 
          As We went out and in
          Between Her final Room
          And Rooms where Those to be alive
          Tomorrow were, a Blame
 
          The Others could exist
          While She must finish quite
          A Jealousy for Her arose
          So nearly infinite –
 
We waited while She passed –
It was a narrow time –
Too jostled were Our Souls to speak
At length the notice came.
 
She mentioned, and forgot –
Then lightly as a Reed
Bent to the Water, struggled scarce –
Consented, and was dead –
 
          As We went out and in  
          Between Her final Room
          And Rooms where Those to be alive
          Tomorrow were, a Blame
 
          The Other could exist
          While She must finish quite
          A Jealousy for Her arose
          So nearly infinite –
 
The last Night that She lived
It was a Common Night
Except the Dying – this to Us
Made nature different
 
And We – we placed the Hair
And drew the Head erect –
And then an awful leisure was
Belief to regulate – 

 
          As We went out and in  
          Between Her final Room
          And Rooms where Those to be alive
          Tomorrow were, a Blame
 
          The Other could exist
          While She must finish quite
          A Jealousy for Her arose
          So nearly infinite –

The music is below -- click on the images to elarge.  I wrote the lyrics to the first verse and the chorus on the sheet music below, but I did not write the second and third verses, but you can see them above.
​ 

PAGE 1
Picture
PAGE 2
Picture
PAGE 3
Picture



Alas, I don't sing -- but you can listen to hte music below.  However, I did not take the repeat.   I only played through the song once so that you could hear the melody, and then I went to the ending. 
0 Comments

    Jim Asher

    This blog contains original songs I have written based on the poetry of Emily Dickinson and other poets.

    TO FIND A PARTICULAR SONG:

    Click in the archives below to access songs based on a particular poet or click on a specific poem title.

    Archives

    November 2020

    Categories

    All
    After Great Pain A Formal Feeling Comes
    Carolina Cabin
    E. E. Cummings
    Emily Dickinson
    Langston Hughes
    The Last Night That She Lived
    The Moon Was But A Chin Of Gold
    There Is A June When Corn Is Cut
    The Sun Just Touched The Morning
    When God Lets My Body Be

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.