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Poems
The more than one hundred poems presented here are some of Emily Dickinson's finest works. These unique and gemlike lyrics are pure distillations of profound feeling and great intellect. They contain a world of imagination, observation, and precisely articulated spiritual and emotional experience. Unlike other editions of Dickinson's work, which contain the public-domain versions of poems published shortly after her death, the ones reprinted here are reconstructions based on Dickinson's original manuscripts.
160 pages, Paperback
Published October 10, 1995
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About the author
Emily Dickinson
1,552 books6,831 followersEmily Dickinson was an American poet who, despite the fact that less than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime, is widely considered one of the most original and influential poets of the 19th century.
Dickinson was born to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life. After she studied at the Amherst Academy for seven years in her youth, she spent a short time at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before returning to her family's house in Amherst. Thought of as an eccentric by the locals, she became known for her penchant for white clothing and her reluctance to greet guests or, later in life, even leave her room. Most of her friendships were therefore carried out by correspondence.
Although Dickinson was a prolific private poet, fewer than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime.The work that was published during her lifetime was usually altered significantly by the publishers to fit the conventional poetic rules of the time. Dickinson's poems are unique for the era in which she wrote; they contain short lines, typically lack titles, and often use slant rhyme as well as unconventional capitalization and punctuation.Many of her poems deal with themes of death and immortality, two recurring topics in letters to her friends.
Although most of her acquaintances were probably aware of Dickinson's writing, it was not until after her death in 1886—when Lavinia, Emily's younger sister, discovered her cache of poems—that the breadth of Dickinson's work became apparent. Her first collection of poetry was published in 1890 by personal acquaintances Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Mabel Loomis Todd, both of whom heavily edited the content.
A complete and mostly unaltered collection of her poetry became available for the first time in 1955 when The Poems of Emily Dickinson was published by scholar Thomas H. Johnson. Despite unfavorable reviews and skepticism of her literary prowess during the late 19th and early 20th century, critics now consider Dickinson to be a major American poet.
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/emily-di...
Dickinson was born to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life. After she studied at the Amherst Academy for seven years in her youth, she spent a short time at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before returning to her family's house in Amherst. Thought of as an eccentric by the locals, she became known for her penchant for white clothing and her reluctance to greet guests or, later in life, even leave her room. Most of her friendships were therefore carried out by correspondence.
Although Dickinson was a prolific private poet, fewer than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime.The work that was published during her lifetime was usually altered significantly by the publishers to fit the conventional poetic rules of the time. Dickinson's poems are unique for the era in which she wrote; they contain short lines, typically lack titles, and often use slant rhyme as well as unconventional capitalization and punctuation.Many of her poems deal with themes of death and immortality, two recurring topics in letters to her friends.
Although most of her acquaintances were probably aware of Dickinson's writing, it was not until after her death in 1886—when Lavinia, Emily's younger sister, discovered her cache of poems—that the breadth of Dickinson's work became apparent. Her first collection of poetry was published in 1890 by personal acquaintances Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Mabel Loomis Todd, both of whom heavily edited the content.
A complete and mostly unaltered collection of her poetry became available for the first time in 1955 when The Poems of Emily Dickinson was published by scholar Thomas H. Johnson. Despite unfavorable reviews and skepticism of her literary prowess during the late 19th and early 20th century, critics now consider Dickinson to be a major American poet.
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/emily-di...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 7, 2024
oh how i love dickinson poetry
May 19, 2020
Oh lord what a beauty!
May 27, 2022
5 stars english hardcover
Must read for school.
But the poems did enchant me reading them near the canal in England.
Must read for school.
But the poems did enchant me reading them near the canal in England.
October 28, 2025
nadie jamás hizo parecer tan bello el color púrpura
November 24, 2015
In early days of nanowripo (Ah! I don't think I have spelled it correctly), one day was dedicated to Emily Dickenson's poetry style and I was very impressed to read her one of the famous poems: Hope is the thing with feathers. Now having read pretty much of them, I think she has an amazing art to describe a simple noun like 'patience, hope, smile, pain' in a variety of wonderful ways. The way she describes 'expanded time and smile's exertion' is mind blowing. Anyone who love poetry must try reading her work once. Some of the poems were very lame and over sentimental and depicted over frustration! Of course I didn't like those.
January 6, 2015
SHE IS AMAZING !! -Selected Poems-
-That it will never come again
-Forever is composed of nows
-Saying nothing sometimes says the most.
-A word is dead when it's been said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day
-Truth is so rare, it is delightful to tell it.
-I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine
-That it will never come again
-Forever is composed of nows
-Saying nothing sometimes says the most.
-A word is dead when it's been said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day
-Truth is so rare, it is delightful to tell it.
-I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine
September 6, 2015
"Heaven"—is what I cannot reach!
The Apple on the Tree—
Provided it do hopeless—hang—
That—"He aven" is—to Me!
The Color, on the Cruising Cloud—
The interdicted Land—
Behind the Hill—the House behind—
There—Paradise—is found!
Her teasing Purples—Afternoons—
The credulous—decoy—
Enamored—of the Conjuror—
That spurned us—Yesterday!
The Apple on the Tree—
Provided it do hopeless—hang—
That—"He aven" is—to Me!
The Color, on the Cruising Cloud—
The interdicted Land—
Behind the Hill—the House behind—
There—Paradise—is found!
Her teasing Purples—Afternoons—
The credulous—decoy—
Enamored—of the Conjuror—
That spurned us—Yesterday!
April 2, 2024
I love her.
These are the days when skies resume
The old - old sophistries of June -
A blue and gold mistake.
Oh fraud that cannot cheat the Bee -
Almost thy plausibility
Induces my belief.
Till ranks of seeds their witness bear -
And softly thro’ the altered air
Hurries a timid leaf.
Oh sacrament of summer days,
Oh last communion in the haze -
Permit a child to join.
[…]
These are the days when skies resume
The old - old sophistries of June -
A blue and gold mistake.
Oh fraud that cannot cheat the Bee -
Almost thy plausibility
Induces my belief.
Till ranks of seeds their witness bear -
And softly thro’ the altered air
Hurries a timid leaf.
Oh sacrament of summer days,
Oh last communion in the haze -
Permit a child to join.
[…]
January 12, 2025
Que hermosa mujer!!! sus poemas son tan lindos la conexión que hace con la naturaleza es preciosa y sus cartas de amor hacia Sue me parecen tan honestas y valientes.
Ella y Taylor Swift son familia!!! como no serlo, dos mujeres inteligentes, hermosas y talentosas
Ella y Taylor Swift son familia!!! como no serlo, dos mujeres inteligentes, hermosas y talentosas
July 20, 2022
فقط به خاطر زنبوراش.👍👍
December 11, 2022
read half of it and i’m watching dickinson rn 🤕
July 1, 2023
4/5
Not gay enough/hj
Not gay enough/hj
November 28, 2023
“To see the Summer Sky
Is Poetry, though never in a Book it lie -
True Poems flee”
Is Poetry, though never in a Book it lie -
True Poems flee”
December 12, 2024
lovely
December 21, 2024
"Será un fasto mejor que los armiños
cuando tú y yo mostremos
nuestro sencillo escudo, reclamando
el rango de los muertos"
cuando tú y yo mostremos
nuestro sencillo escudo, reclamando
el rango de los muertos"
October 3, 2018
I now understand why Emily Dickinson is so praised and is highly regarded. Her work is absolutely amazing! I really want to read a lot more poetry, as I’ve read a lot of poems and listened to a lot of spoken word but I haven’t read many poetry collections and I want to change that. I love poetry as a medium to express raw and personal ideas, struggles etc. So in the future you will definitely be seeing me read more poetry.
Dickinson’s poetry feels so timeless and What I think makes her work so timeless is that she focus on the emotion rather than the experience. What I mean is that everyone throughout history has felt fear, angry, happiness etc. but what causes those emotions is different throughout history as it’s so subjective to the person. Dickinson captures emotions so beautifully. For example her poem titled Hope, which has her famous line “hope is the thing with feathers”, she describes the abstract concept of hope rather than writing what gives her hope. I have honestly read that poem at least 20 times, it’s just so good.
I am no poetry expert by any means, but I honestly have nothing bad/ constructive to say, sure there are some poems that I didn’t like or didn’t know what they trying to say. However, the vast majority of them were beautiful, relatable and meaningful.
Dickinson’s poetry feels so timeless and What I think makes her work so timeless is that she focus on the emotion rather than the experience. What I mean is that everyone throughout history has felt fear, angry, happiness etc. but what causes those emotions is different throughout history as it’s so subjective to the person. Dickinson captures emotions so beautifully. For example her poem titled Hope, which has her famous line “hope is the thing with feathers”, she describes the abstract concept of hope rather than writing what gives her hope. I have honestly read that poem at least 20 times, it’s just so good.
I am no poetry expert by any means, but I honestly have nothing bad/ constructive to say, sure there are some poems that I didn’t like or didn’t know what they trying to say. However, the vast majority of them were beautiful, relatable and meaningful.
January 3, 2019
Conobbi Emily Dickinson alle superiori, vidi la sua foto più celebre sul libro di antologia e vi erano tre o quattro (ora non ricordo) sue poesie. Non la studiammo mai perché l'insegnante seguiva il programma a modo suo, ma lessi e rilessi la sua biografia e quelle poche poesie più volte e guardavo intensamente quella foto. Ancor'oggi non so il perché.
A distanza di anni sono riuscito a leggere molte delle sue opere e ammetto che quel fascino che esercitava non era semplice curiosità, perché ho divorato questo libro e vorrei entrare in possesso di tutte le sue opere (so che ha scritto oltre 1700 poesie) perché la criptica semplicità con cui esprime ciò che sente, il suo amore per la natura, il suo distacco verso i dogmi puritani e i sentimenti verso l'uomo che amava... si percepiscono e sono sintomo di un'anima sensibile e raffinata nella sua semplicità, conscia delle bellezze e brutture della vita nonostante la sua autoclausura.
È da poco che mi sto appassionando alla poesia, iniziando dai romantici inglesi, ma questa poetessa americana mi ha sempre affascinato e ne consiglio la lettura a tutti.
A distanza di anni sono riuscito a leggere molte delle sue opere e ammetto che quel fascino che esercitava non era semplice curiosità, perché ho divorato questo libro e vorrei entrare in possesso di tutte le sue opere (so che ha scritto oltre 1700 poesie) perché la criptica semplicità con cui esprime ciò che sente, il suo amore per la natura, il suo distacco verso i dogmi puritani e i sentimenti verso l'uomo che amava... si percepiscono e sono sintomo di un'anima sensibile e raffinata nella sua semplicità, conscia delle bellezze e brutture della vita nonostante la sua autoclausura.
È da poco che mi sto appassionando alla poesia, iniziando dai romantici inglesi, ma questa poetessa americana mi ha sempre affascinato e ne consiglio la lettura a tutti.
June 4, 2020
“𝓐𝓼 𝓲𝓯 𝓶𝔂 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮 𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓷
𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓪 𝓯𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓮,
𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓫𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓪 𝓴𝓮𝔂;
𝓐𝓷𝓭 '𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓶𝓲𝓭𝓷𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽, 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮,
𝓦𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓭,
𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓹𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓼, 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓪𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭,
𝓞𝓻 𝓰𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓵𝔂 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓽𝓼, 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓾𝓶𝓷 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓷𝓼,
𝓡𝓮𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓰𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭.”
I love the style of Emily's poems so much, they are very deep and with a good dose of melancholy, which becomes more realistic and you can imagine writing those passages.
It is something impressive, I’m truly impressed. I’ve started reading her poems more, and I’m glad I did, because if I didn’t, I would always think I hated poems, but everything changed when I watched Dickison on Apple+ , and it encouraged me to read more about their works, and I admit that I made a great choice.
𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓪 𝓯𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓮,
𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓫𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓪 𝓴𝓮𝔂;
𝓐𝓷𝓭 '𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓶𝓲𝓭𝓷𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽, 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮,
𝓦𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓭,
𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓹𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓼, 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓪𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭,
𝓞𝓻 𝓰𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓵𝔂 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓽𝓼, 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓾𝓶𝓷 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓷𝓼,
𝓡𝓮𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓰𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭.”
I love the style of Emily's poems so much, they are very deep and with a good dose of melancholy, which becomes more realistic and you can imagine writing those passages.
It is something impressive, I’m truly impressed. I’ve started reading her poems more, and I’m glad I did, because if I didn’t, I would always think I hated poems, but everything changed when I watched Dickison on Apple+ , and it encouraged me to read more about their works, and I admit that I made a great choice.
November 6, 2015
I had to read a book of poetry for a reading challenge this year. I admit to not being especially savvy when it comes to understanding the true meaning of many poems, but I took poetry in college, and I had a done decent job of explicating "Because I Could Not Stop for Death," so I figured what the heck. Also, my physician once told me that she had experienced gnosis, and actually wrote a book of his own regarding her spirituality and the Bible, or something along those lines. A lot of it is still barely understandable to me, but I did bookmark a number of poems that I feel I may be able to better understand and appreciate if I go back and re-read them, you know, 10 or 20 times....
August 28, 2009
What I learned: I don't get it. I understand it was probably still huge to see a woman poet in her time about fifty years after Jane Austen, but I just don't see anything spectacular in this poetry! Topically: the styles don't do the ideas justice. As for the executions--boring. I want to be led and teased, dipped and climaxed; her poems all feel cut by the same carving of safe pacing and safe, prominently religious, ideas. They're quick, which is a plus--usually. They rhyme, which is definitely favoured by me. But her writing is just not my cup of tea.
March 9, 2008
this is a teeny tiny book that fits in your back pocket. this is also the first time i've actually really read emily d. maybe in high school, but i was a smart-ass kid and probably skimmed her works thinking they did not pertain to me. well, they do!! she is wonderful. her poems are swift and sharp. i carry this book with me everywhere and have read through it hundreds of times. the portability of it makes it my best friend, and the depth of it makes it a great thinking companion.
February 27, 2010
Another of my mother's favorite poets. I love Emily Dickinson because she writes personally, simply, yet beautifully descriptive. I recommend her to all hungering souls! One quoted often by Mom is "I'm Nobody, Who are you? Are you nobody too? Then there's a pair of us--don't tell, they'd banish us you know..." For musicians, some of her poems have been set in trio arrangements. Lots of fun to sing!
March 5, 2015
Emily Dickinson is a very descriptive poeter to read. Her grammar and style is very old, making it hard for the new generations to read and understand. She kept building on her courage so she could face herself. She writes about the simplicity, of her personal stories, yet has a beautiful and challenging description. She has her own style of not only writing, but the way she looks at life. Its a great book to read that gives you a different perspective, if your up for a challenge.
February 7, 2014
While not a definitive collection by any means, this collection is very lovingly edited. Some of Dickinson's more interesting meditations on pain, time, and the body are featured in here, and their arrangement creates a lovely conversation. It's small size makes it the perfect travel companion. My edition is dog-eared, pencil-lined, and well-worn.
February 27, 2017
'I many times thought Peace had come
When Peace was far away -
As Wrecked Men - deem they sight the Land -
At Centre of the Sea -
And struggle slacker - but to prove
As hopelessly as I -
How many the fictitious Shores
Before the Harbor be -'
Yes, yes, yes. This is the first poetry book I've read, and I absolutely loved it. Gave me chills all down my spine over and over.
When Peace was far away -
As Wrecked Men - deem they sight the Land -
At Centre of the Sea -
And struggle slacker - but to prove
As hopelessly as I -
How many the fictitious Shores
Before the Harbor be -'
Yes, yes, yes. This is the first poetry book I've read, and I absolutely loved it. Gave me chills all down my spine over and over.
August 27, 2023
The poetry is fine; it's the typography that needs improvement. Each page has its own font, many of them crude or low resolution, as though they had been badly scanned. Worse still, many times the word at the end of a line is partially cut off, leaving the reader unsure about the meaning.
By all means, read Dickinson's excellent poems, but not this edition.
By all means, read Dickinson's excellent poems, but not this edition.
October 21, 2007
when i keep this book in my back pocket, it looks like i own a wallet. brenda hillman did a fine job of selecting ms. dickinson's poems. this is the most beat-up and worn-out book i own, but i'm still holding out hope it lasts forever.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews