In class today the word ‘intense’ was brought up to describe Dickinson, as in ‘maybe she retreated from the world because it was too intense for her to experience directly.’ I feel like you can really see that intensity play out in her letters, especially in the letters we’ve read to people that are so close to her (in her intimate circle). The word ‘reverent’ kept popping up in my mind – even though Dickinson isn’t religious, the way she writes about nature and her relationships almost makes me think of worship in a way. Like in letter 496 to Sally Jenkins when she writes:

“Will the sweet child who sent me the butterflies, herself a member of the same ethereal nation, accept a rustic kiss, flavored, we trust with clover?” (496).

Or the way she describes nature in the letter to Mrs. Holland:

“My only sketch profile, of Heaven is a large, blue sky, bluer and larger than the biggest I have seen in June…” (136)

Or, from another poem to Mrs. Holland: “Indeed, this world is short, and I wish, until I tremble, to touch the ones I love before the hills are red – are gray – are white – are “born again!” If we knew how deep the crocus lay, we should never let  her go.” (151).

I’m interested in what you guys think about how she relates to Whitman in this way – if his voice is similar to hers, if they look at the world in similar ways, and what differences there might be between their points of view?

Liz’s CS for March 9th –

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