Turning to Emily Dickinson - Joan Lennon

“Hope” is the thing with feathers - 

That perches in the soul - 

And sings the tune without the words - 

And never stops - at all - 

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - 

And sore must be the storm - 

That could abash the little Bird 

That kept so many warm - 

I’ve heard it in the chillest land - 

And on the strangest Sea - 

Yet - never - in Extremity, 

It asked a crumb - of me.

Emily Dickinson "Hope is the thing with feathers"
(written in 1861, published posthumously in 1891)


(Apologies for re-using this from my own blog - I've been playing host to a disgusting lurgy.  And time spent with Emily is never wasted.)



Joan Lennon's website.
Joan Lennon's blog.
Silver Skin.

No Frigate like a Book - Joan Lennon

October 8, 1940, after an air raid on London 

(AP photo)

There is no Frigate like a Book

BY EMILY DICKINSON

There is no Frigate like a Book

To take us Lands away

Nor any Coursers like a Page

Of prancing Poetry –

This Traverse may the poorest take

Without oppress of Toll –

How frugal is the Chariot

That bears the Human Soul –

(This version of the poem is found on the Poetry Foundation website.)

Joan Lennon's website.

Joan Lennon's blog.