Although Emily Dickinson's my favorite poet, and I've spent hour upon mellifluous hour reading her verses, I've never understood this poem. I like it, but never quite understood it. What did she mean when she said loving birds is economical? And why would a love of birds ever save going to heaven? It all sounds a bit reckless and irreverent. Ah well. I appreciate Emily's terse, morose mind... and I do like birds. So there. Guess we've covered that.
I only thought of Emily and the bird poem today because it seems this same little creature has perched around since New Year's Eve. First he was in the melting snow outside the front door. Then I spotted him with several buddies in the backyard tree. Now he's on the hose hanger just outside my bedroom balcony. Curious fellow. I'm wondering if all the dancing and laughing and praying in the midnight snow turned me into some sort of Mary Lennox. Or perhaps just gave me a touch of the flu. Which would explain why I've spent an entire blog post rambling on about literature and birds.
Anyway, hope your January first was lovely. I'm looking forward to this new year we have together. I hope you love it too. It will be economical. It will not, however we may try, save going to heaven. Just thought you should know.
I, too am a big fan of this poem. I think that the poem means that "death" is an expensive ticket to see heaven. So if you can watch the birds while on earth, you get a little bit of heaven here. I know that birds were some of her favorite creatures, so that may help you, too!
ReplyDeletePoor dear Emily. "Morose" is absolutely the word to describe her and I am quite certain that she could have benefited from medication. Still, who hasn't felt a kinship with her? A kind of "I'm a nobody, who are you?" kinship. Her poetry is thought-provoking and that's just as poetry should be. In the meantime, enjoy the birds and I agree with you... nothing, nobody, and nowhere beats heaven!
ReplyDeleteBrin, I love the way you write and I love the way you think.
ReplyDeletewishing you a beautiful 2008!
ReplyDeleteluv, karri
Looking forward to it. BTW you mentioned a new blog site last year. Too busy with work?
ReplyDeleteI love many of Emily's poems—some seem even cryptic. I've always kind of felt that her poems were doing a great deal of questioning in the guise of statements. Considering that there were a great deal of religious shifts taking place during her lifetime, this might explain a few things.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Terri on her interpretation.
BEST BLESSINGS IN 2008!
KJ
I'll have to admit that I don't get much out of the poem..but then I've never been a fan of poetry..
ReplyDeleteI do like birds though and Heaven will be divine!
I look forward to your posts, you are one interesting and fun writer!! You make me smile:)
i like the way you write....new to the blog world and saw your blog on someone else's site. pretty cool your writing a book. i write children's books as well.
ReplyDeleteI had a friend, now passed, who believed birds were messeragers from above, and when she saw a bluebird just before a surgery, she was relaxed to know it all would be fine. Just a thought? I too love birds, no other creature gets that close to heaven, on the wings....
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother was very superstitious...she thought every time she saw a red bird that "company" was coming. She immediately began cleaning house! Love the photos of the robins...my favorite birds! By the way, they are double the size in England as they are here in Texas.
ReplyDeleteBirds are like little angels! I think terri + bob is right - watching birds on earth is a good simulation of heaven (according to Miss Dickenson). A test drive - a freebie, without having to die first.
ReplyDeleteHow's your book coming, Brin? I can't wait to get a copy. My January goal is preparing a synopsis for my own - I have found someone to read it, so now I need a Really Bright Idea and some samples! Hm.... I was planning to have one goal per month but this could take up a whole season...
Glad to see you back and glad to see you feeling better. Happy new year to you Brin:>)
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