Carta al mundo y otros poemas

by Emily Dickinson, María Negroni (Translator), Isabelle Arsenault (Illustrator)

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Picture Books, Art, Young Adult, Childrens, 19th Century

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Emily 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...

Reviews

[Paula Mota · Rating 3 out of 5]

Os poetas apenas ateiam Chamas -
Eles próprios - extinguem -
Os Pavios que acendem -
Se a Lua vital

É inerente como nos Sóis -
Cada Idade uma Lente
Disseminando-se
Circularmente -

Gostei do imaginário e da cadência de alguns poemas, mas é uma autora demasiado mística para mim. Ainda que considere a substituição da pontuação convencional por travessões muito vanguardista para a época, quebra-me bastante o ritmo mental da leitura.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong, dark illustrations add to the impact of Dickinson's poetry.
The selection leans toward works about mortality, although it's not exclusive.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I haven't read Emily Dickinson's poetry before, there were parts I liked, sentences and thoughts that struck me but in general I suspect it isn't the sort of work that is instantly enjoyable. I expect I would gain more by rereading and thinking about it. My daughter didn't like the poetry, she found it gloomy and hard to understand.

Isabelle Arsenault's illustrations are good and work well with the subject. I'm not sure if the book is aimed at children, I think it is but I can't see many children enjoying this. Personally I think the book would benefit from some explanations or notes of what Dickinson might have been expressing at the end of the book, especially if this is aimed at children. It was also unclear where one poem ended and the next begun.

There was an interesting page about Emily Dickinson and a page Isabelle Arsenault at the end of the book. This edition has a nice cloth covered spine and use of different types of paper at the start of the book, this would make a lovely gift for someone who enjoys Emily Dickinson's work.

[Joanito_a · Rating 5 out of 5]

Μια εξαιρετική ολοκληρωμένη συλλογή για μια γυναίκα που δεν υποτάχθηκε στις αισθητικές αντιλήψεις της εποχής. Αξίζει να διαβάσετε τα ποιήματα πέρα από τη φροντισμένη μετάφραση και στην μητρική τους γλώσσα, όπως και την αναλυτική εισαγωγή.

Με ρώτησε απαλά "Γιατί είσαι εδώ;"
"Για την Ομορφιά ", απάντησα-
"Κι εγώ- για την Αλήθεια"- Ένα και τα δυο-
Είμαστε Αδέλφια", είπε-
Κι έτσι, σαν Συγγενείς , συναντηθήκαμε μια Νύχτα-

Στην πρώτη επιστολή της προς τον Χίγκινσον, η Ντίκινσον του είχε θέσει ένα απλό, αλλά θεμελιώδες,ερώτημα : "αναπνέει η ποίησή μου;"

"Η Φύση είναι ένα Στοιχειωμένο Σπίτι- αλλά η Τέχνη - ένα Σπίτι που προσπαθεί να στοιχειώσει"

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un verdadero descubrimiento, una poeta de esas que exactamente tocan los temas que me gustan con la perfecta-imperfecta métrica. La edición y las ilustraciones oro puro!

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Visions in Poetry series. Isabelle Arsenault brilliantly and hauntingly illustrates a few of Emily Dickinson’s poems. Emily, dressed in her signature white, flits throughout her short, unconventional, and expressive verses.

[Lito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Μια πολύ προσεγμένη έκδοση και μια εξαιρετική μετάφραση που με συγκίνησε, από τον Χάρη Βλαβιανό.

[Desirée JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una maravilla desde el principio hasta el final. Una buena forma de acercarse a Emily Dickinson

[Lulu (the library leopard)]

Emily Dickinson's poetry isn't really my thing (I suspect enjoyment requires some more rereading and thinking), but I really liked the inclusion of illustrations in this, and I felt they really fit with the mood of the poems.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am almost a hundred percent sure that I had never before read anything by Emily Dickinson. I might have come across her poetry while at the readings I used to attend and take part of, but sitting down with one of her books? I am pretty sure this was the first time.

“This is my letter to the World
That never wrote to Me –
The simple News that Nature told –
With tender Majesty

Her Message is committed
To Hands I cannot see –
For love of Her – Sweet – countrymen –
Judge tenderly – of Me.”

Even though this collection is but a grain of sand in the immensity of her body of work, I believe, from what I have read, it illustrates her writing style rather perfectly. The way she plays with breaks and capitalized letters creates a particular imagery that somehow ended up bringing the thought of half-open doors to mind. It feels as if we are building a puzzle with the snippets we get from her, the cracks between them exhaling the universe.

“Death leave Us homesick, who behind,
Except that it is gone
Are ignorant of its Concern
As if it were not born.

Through all their former Places, we
Like Individuals go
Who something lost, the seeking for
Is all that’s left them, now – ”

After spending most of the year in the sole company of the delightful Mary Oliver, I must confess it was not easy for me to bond with Emily Dickinson’s writing. I really do enjoy the liberties she takes, but thematically speaking… it just wasn’t as inevitable to me, at least for now. Then again, this is indeed but a grain of sand. Will certainly read further on.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of seven of Emily Dickinson's best known poems, maybe directed to tweens or ya, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault in sumptuous watercolors. Spare and lovely poems and artwork. There's a kind of contemplative quality to it that I love and a kind of gently surreal sense of play, too.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

" y Yo, y el Silencio, alguna extraña Raza
hundida, solitaria, aquí-
Y luego una Tabla
en la Razón, cedió,
y yo caí,
y caí-
y en cada caída,
choqué contra un Mundo,
y entonces
supe-al fin-"

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seven of Emily Dickinson's poems are beautifully illustrated.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Mejor desencontrarnos -
Tú ahí - Yo - aquí -
con la puerta entreabierta
que el Océano es - y la Plegaria -
y ese Blanco Sustento -
la Desesperación -

[Γιώργος Τσιβελέκος · Rating 3 out of 5]

Από τα σχεδόν 1.800 ποιήματα που έγραψε η ποιήτρια, τα 160 δεν μπορούν να θεωρηθούν αντιπροσωπευτικά. Κατά τη γνώμη μου, θα έπρεπε να είχαν επιλεχθεί κι άλλα. Στην εισαγωγή παρατίθενται και σχολιάζονται κάποια ποιήματα και μετά υπάρχουν ξανά στο κυρίως σώμα του βιβλίου με τα ποιήματα της Ντίκινσον. Για ποιον λόγο στη θέση τους δεν μπήκαν άλλα, παρά γίνεται επανάληψη; Επίσης, δεν κατανοώ την εμμονή για τη ζωή της. Ένας καλλιτέχνης πρέπει να κρίνεται με βάση το έργο του και όχι να κρίνεται το έργο του από τη ζωή του. Όπως πολύ σωστά αναφέρεται ότι η Ντίκινσον μάλλον θα ήθελε ο αναγνώστης να την κρίνει στη βάση της ποιότητας του έργου της κι όχι του φύλου της ή των σεξουαλικών της προτιμήσεων, εγώ θα συμπλήρωνα και όχι με βάση τη ζωή της. Οπότε, για μένα, όλες οι λεπτομέρειες για τη ζωή της και τις επιστολές που έγραφε, οι οποίες παρατίθενται στις 130 σελίδες της εισαγωγής, είναι αχρείαστες. Θα μπορούσαν να είχαν παρουσιαστεί πιο συνοπτικά και στη θέση τους να είχαν μπει κι άλλα αυτούσια ποιήματά της, για να μιλούσαμε για μια πιο καλή ανθολογία. Επίσης, μέχρι στιγμής κανένας ξένος ποιητής δε με έχει κερδίσει όσο οι Έλληνες.

[Cynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series Visions in Poetry consists of illustrated poetry and appeals to young adults dealing with their own angst. Here are themes of death, discard, loneliness, and more. Here us art that informs the shadowy images of inner thought.


Read for Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon April 2021.

[soydiannalaura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que buen inicio del año lector.

Es una obra preciosa, en esta edición tan pero enserio tan hermosa del Zorro Rojo que no sé pero estoy amando con un amor que es vida de mi vida.

Cuan profundas son las palabras exactas para hacer vibrar un corazón.

Emily me deja pensando ¿Quién soy en realidad?

[Leopoldo · Rating 4 out of 5]

La traducción de María Negroni, cristalina.

[Nenúfares ☽ · Rating 5 out of 5]

tan desgarradora como siempre Dickinson

[Emi Porfiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

“So we must meet apart -
You there - I - here -
With just the Door ajar
That Oceans are - and Prayer -
And that White Sustenance -
Despair-“

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiene unos poemas muy lindos, me quedé atorada en algunos párrafos. Fuera de eso, es la segunda vez que leo a Emily, y he de decir que sus poemas son más para un público adulto pero aún así muy amenos si entiendes a la primera.

[Bασίλης Τσιρώνης · Rating 5 out of 5]

Μοναδική έκδοση που τόσο έλειπε. Κάλλιο αργά παρά ποτέ.

[Valeria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cierro el año siendo un poco más fan de la poesía y es uno de los mejores cierres para mí.

El año pasado leí muchos poemarios que si bien eran bellos en toda regla, también me hacían sentir casi indiferente.
Hasta pude llegar a cuestionarme si la poesía era para mí.
No obstante, este año he descubierto escritos que han cambiado mi perspectiva y me hicieron sentir tanto, tanto que solo pude llorar al leer frases que mostraban una parte de mí.

Este en específico, es un bonito adiós y un regalo valioso.
Solo soy un conjunto de palabras y si, amo a Emily.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily Dickinson My Letter to the World and Other Poems Emily Dickinson illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault

Emily Dickinson is one of my favorite authors. The images and the feelings she evokes are profound, simplistic and yet very haunting.

The illustrations in this book are candy for the eyes. The poems are balm for a weary soul.

[M.W.P.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my letter to the world,
That never wrote to me, -
The simple news that Nature told,
With tender majesty

Her message is committed
To hands I cannot see;
For love of her, sweet countrymen,
Judge tenderly of me!

This slim volume of selected poems by Emily Dickinson is beautifully illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault as part of the Visions in Poetry series.

There's a certain Slant of light,
Winter Afternoons -
That oppresses, like a Heft
Of Cathedral Tune -

Heavenly Hurt, it gives us -
We can find no scar,
But internal difference,
Where the Meanings, are -

None may teach it - Any -
'Tis the Seal despair -
An imperial affliction
Sent us of the Air -

When it comes, the Landscape listens –
Shadows – hold their breath –
When it goes, 'tis like the Distance
On the look of Death –


I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Are you – Nobody – Too?
Then there’s a pair of us!
Don’t tell! they’d advertise – you know!

How dreary – to be – Somebody!
How public – like a Frog –
To tell one’s name – the livelong June –
To an admiring Bog!

I cannot live with You –
It would be Life –
And Life is over there –
Behind the Shelf -

The Sexton keeps the Key to
Putting up
Our Life – His Porcelain –
Like a Cup –

Discarded of the Housewife –
Quaint – or Broke –
A newer Sevres pleases –
Old Ones crack –

I could not die – with You –
For One must wait
To shut the Other’s Gaze down –
You – could not –

And I – could I stand by
And see You – freeze –
Without my Right of Frost –
Death’s privilege?

Nor could I rise – with You –
Because Your Face
Would put out Jesus’ –
That New Grace

Glow plain – and foreign
On my homesick Eye –
Except that You than He
Shone closer by –

They’d judge Us – How –
For You – served Heaven – You know,
Or sought to –
I could not –

Because You saturated Sight –
And I had no more Eyes
For sordid excellence
As Paradise

And were You lost, I would be –
Though My Name
Rang loudest
On the Heavenly fame –

And were You – saved –
And I – condemned to be
Where You were not –
That self – were Hell to Me –

So We must meet apart –
You there – I – here –
With just the Door ajar
That Oceans are – and Prayer –
And that White Sustenance –
Despair –


“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.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The great children’s collections of Emily Dickinson’s poems... I’m sure they exist. They’d have to. We’re talking about one of the greatest (THE greatest?) American poets to put pen to paper. It would be patently ridiculous if there weren’t a couple collections for kids out there. A quick search of my library’s catalog and I see things like Poems for Youth which collected seventy-eight of her poems alongside illustrations, published in 1996. Or there was A Brighter Garden with illustrations by Tasha Tudor, which came out in 1990 with Philomel. Still, when all is said and done the Dickinson poetry section of my children’s room looks a bit spare. And maybe it takes something a little shorter like My Letter to the World and Other Poems, produced by Kids Can Press’s Visions in Poetry series to capture children’s attention. A slim volume of a mere seven poems, this introduction to Emily Dickinson will lure in new fans with the woman’s innate sense of mystery. Accompanied by illustrator Isabelle Arsenault’s signature style, this book that will offer children an Emily finally worth getting to know.

The seven poems in this book include Dickinson’s best-known work. “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” snuggles up alongside “Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me-” And from the first gessoed page that sports the titular opening poem to the well-known “ ‘Hope’ is a thing with feathers” found at the end, the book invokes Dickinson’s life. Arsenault’s mixed media works in watercolors, paints, inks, newsprint, photographs, you name it. But rather than give the book a crazed slapdash appearance, the images are cool and collected. They work seamlessly with the poetry, offering sparing jolts of color whenever you least expect it. This is not your standard Dickinson fare, a fact which gives you all the more reason to purchase it for a kid you know pronto.

Recently I saw the actor Simon Callow perform Shakespeare’s sonnets in a newly established order that told a kind of story. If a person had half a mind to, they could certainly do the same kind of performance with Dickinson’s poetry as well. In fact, as I was reading My Letter to the World I tried to ascertain if the editors and illustrator were consciously attempting that kind of storyline. The transition between “I cannot live with you” to “ ‘Hope’ is a thing with feathers,” suggests at a kind of continuity, but that may just lie within the brain of the reader. I guess that one of the things I appreciated about this book was that if you were looking for some kind of a tale (and I’d say a large percentage of your child readers will be) then you could probably find one here. If, however, you found such a notion unpleasant then you could simply say that these poems were placed together due to a pleasing continuity and not some grossly forced narrative. However you chose to look at it, I’m just grateful that they ended with the “hope” poem. Maybe you think that was a given, but considering the subject matter of the previous poems, it makes sense to end on a mildly lighter note.

Americans love outsider art. I think it appeals to our sense of art as something spontaneous and wild, growing up in unconventional areas. To call Dickinson “outsider” because she wrote primarily (though not exclusively) for herself may sound like a bit of a stretch but it’s not wholly inaccurate. In fact, the real problem may come in considering her not outsider enough. There is a danger inherent in any Dickinson collection for kids; the possibility that the editors will present her as twee. This is not a cutesy writer. Sure, she wrote little poems that begin with sentences like, “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” with their misleadingly sweet overtones. A little delving, though, and you begin to see how dark even Dickinson's lightest work was. That’s where Isabelle Arsenault comes in.

Now this Visions in Poetry series produced by Kids Can Press has been pairing hip, alternative, and generally magnificent artists alongside classic poems for a couple years now. It’s hard to forget Joe Morse’s inner city Casey at the Bat or the stunning take on The Owl and the Pussycat attempted by Stephane Jorisch. That the producers of this series selected Ms. Arsenault, an artist of the adult persuasion, is notable. Arsenault’s style is by turns bleak and thoughtful, stunning and contemplative. Her previous children’s book, Mr. Gauguin’s Heart was released in the United States just last year as her children’s debut. So what I found I admired most about her work on this book was her rejection of the sentimental. I am not saying that her style precludes emotion, but rather that she clearly “gets” Dickinson. Somehow this artist and this author belong together. See if you don’t agree.

At the end of each Visions in Poetry title there is a lengthy biography of both the poet and the illustrator. Sometimes when it comes to the latter you can find yourself wondering just how much of the information there was provided by the artist and how much was extrapolated by the editors. For example, in the case of Ms. Arsenault there is a great deal of attention paid to her visual symbolism and references. I did not know that Dickinson was prone to wearing a lot of white, but Arsenault makes certain to include all pictures of Emily in this book in dresses of that color. But then there are sentences like, “The twin-towered cathedral and ominous shadow in ‘There’s a certain Slant of light,’ eerily suggestive of the events of 9/11,” that give me pause. I guess I can read that interpretation into the work if I want to, but was that the artist’s real intent? The editor certainly thinks so but on this and other notes I should like a little additional confirmation, please.

When Poetry Month rolls around my library will be swamped with kids holding up their school assignments. Some of them will be assigned Emily Dickinson, or maybe just one of her poems. How satisfying it will be to hand then My Letter to the World. Oh sure, they’ll probably wrinkle their noses at the odd professionalism of the packaging. A smyth sewn caseboard? Puh-leeze. But after some trial and error they will see how engrossing, or at the very least stimulating, this Arsenault/Dickinson combo can be. I can’t claim that My Letter to the World will convert your reluctant readers into poetry-popping addicts, but at the very least it won’t turn them off the woman. And who knows? Maybe they’ll even find themselves reading and rereading a line here and there, just to taste the flavor of it. A great new addition to the Visions in Poetry series and an artist worth keeping an eye on.

Ages 9 and up.

[Maria Bikaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Μετρώ κάθε θλίψη που συναντώ
Με βλέμμα ερευνητικό, εξονυχιστικό
Αναρωτιέμαι αν ζυγίζει όσο η δική μου
Ή αν το φορτίο της είναι πιο ισχνό.
Αναρωτιέμαι αν εκείνοι την υπέμεναν καιρό
Ή μόλις τώρα αρχίζει
Το πότε ξεκίνησε η δική μου δεν ξέρω να το πω
Από παλιά ο πόνος αυτός με βασανίζει
Αναρωτιέμαι αν το να ζεις είναι οδυνηρό
Κι αν πρέπει εκείνοι να μοχθούνε
Κι αν μπορούσαν να επιλέξουν ένα από τα δύο
Στον θάνατο θα προτιμούσαν να δοθούνε
Βλέπω ότι καποιοι όντας πλέον καρτερικοί
Μπορούν, εντέλει,να χαμογελούνε
Μίμηση φωτός
Που φέγγει με λάδι λιγοστό
Αναρωτιέμαι όταν τα χρόνια σωρευτούν
Χίλια και βάλε πάνω στο κακό
Που νωρίς τους είχε βρει το διάστημα αυτό
Αν κάποιο βάλσαμο θα τους προσφέρει
Ή θα συνεχίσουν να πονούν
Αντέχοντας επι αιώνες
Ατενίζοντας μια οδύνη πιο μεγάλη
Που αντίθετη είναι στην αγάπη
Πολλοί μαθαίνω ότι πενθούν.
Ποικίλες είναι οι αιτίες
Ο θάνατος μία από αυτές και μια φορά μας βρίσκει
Και τα μάτια μόνο σφραγίζει
Υπερέχει της στέρησης η θλίψη και της παγωνιάς η θλίψη
Μια μορφή που απόγνωση τη λένε
Υπάρχει η εξορία από μάτια οικεία
Αντικρίζοντας τον οικείο ουρανό
Και αν το είδος της να μαντέψω δε μπορώ
Σωστά-παρ' όλα αυτά
Οξύτατη μου δίνει παρηγοριά
Στον Γολγοθά που περνώ
Να βλεπω τις μορφές που παίρνει ο Σταυρός
Και πως φοριέται πιο συχνά
Ακόμα με συναρπάζει να υποθέτω
Πως κάποιοι με τον δικό μου μοιάζουν

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found a Spanish version of this book on eBay and must admit am unfamiliar with Emily Dickinsons work - I bought it purely for the illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault of whom I am a fan. I have since found an English version on archive.org and read it that way.

It's a beautiful little book - hardback with a cloth bound spine and the illustrations are full page with the poems printed directly on the images. It's a short enough read that I am going to copy the English version onto post it notes and include within my Spanish version.

I am very interested in the themes that Dickinson speaks about - death and nature - and although I may not fully understand what she is saying (I am a poetry dunce but willing to learn) I get the gist and want to understand.

The absolutely gorgeous illustrations beautifully compliment the words.

One tiny gripe is that all the poems run together and it DOES work in a way but as I am a newcomer to the poet I would have appreciated a little marker telling me where one poem ended and another began - the themes are so similar, it's hard to tell. But that's a tiny gripe. A beautiful book all in all that will be staying in my collection of art books.

[Ivette Rios · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ni bien leí el título, lo compré de inmediato. Nunca había escuchado y mucho menos haber leído alguno de los poemas de Emily. Sin embargo, tuve la bienvenida con esta obra.

Me gustaron varios poemas y ni qué decir de las ilustraciones, van muy acorde. La tonalidad encaja perfectamente.
No obstante, lo puntualizo con tres estrellas porque no me enganchó ni conecté. Quiero decir, no sentí que estuviera en el libro o que me lo estuviese diciendo Emily. Fue muy ligero y no me provocó emociones. Adicionalmente, solo dos poemas me dejaron pensando.

Sería genial que, en una próxima edición, vaya junto a comentarios o análisis de cada poema para profundizar y ayudar a que, nosotros como lectores, entendamos y nos permitan conocer un poco más de Emily Dickinson.

[JUAN CAMILO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Los poemas de Dickinson son tan complejos como su personaje de dama desmarcada y poco convencional.
La poesía que propone Dickinson pretende destilar toda la inmortalidad y todo el deseo insurgente de la época.
La excesiva utilización del guión deja entrever la necedad a la hora de escribir, pero también deja al lector el sentimiento de una profunda ansiedad por la inmediatez que implica la escritura.

Un poemario con una serie de ilustraciones que logran su cometido: el de desmitificar y plasmar a Dickinson en toda su belleza antinatural.