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Emily Dickinson: A selection of poems from one of America’s most iconic poets
American poet Emily Dickinson is revered around the world, and influenced many feminist artists and writers. Her work is some of the best known and most quoted or
'Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all' Emily Dickinson
Dickinson received a very good education, but chose to return home to Amherst, Massachusetts, where she spent the rest of her life, writing more than a poem a day until her death. Her refusal to compromise her highly condensed expression meant that only a tiny fraction of her work was published in her lifetime. Even today, her work feels startlingly
'Dogs are better than human beings because they know but do not tell' Emily Dickinson
'The dearest ones of time, the strongest friends of the soul - BOOKS'
This is a superb collection from a truly iconic poet.
'Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all' Emily Dickinson
Dickinson received a very good education, but chose to return home to Amherst, Massachusetts, where she spent the rest of her life, writing more than a poem a day until her death. Her refusal to compromise her highly condensed expression meant that only a tiny fraction of her work was published in her lifetime. Even today, her work feels startlingly
'Dogs are better than human beings because they know but do not tell' Emily Dickinson
'The dearest ones of time, the strongest friends of the soul - BOOKS'
This is a superb collection from a truly iconic poet.
128 pages, Paperback
Published January 10, 2023
24 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Emily Dickinson
1,551 books6,827 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 3, 2023
Emily my love, I miss you forever
February 5, 2023
One of my favourite poets
February 25, 2024
This collection is evident of Dickinson’s troubles to connect the idea of heaven and the wondrous mysteries of the material world. In a lot of het poetry she questions the hand of God and the underlying reason WHY creating the mortal realm. She has a deep relationship and appreciation of the beauty of Nature. I think this is most explored in poem 351 “But we might learn to like the Heaven, As well as our Old Home!”
I think her strongest poems are written in twofold: 4 lines each. Her ideas can be hard to follow especially in the longer format, for example 1670 and the snake? What kind of meds was she on there?
The ones that stood out to me were 248,315,338, 448, 441, 544, 642, 690, 721, 1412, 1601…
And my favorites are 378 and 501. The line “beyond the dip of bell” has been on my mind ever since.
I think her strongest poems are written in twofold: 4 lines each. Her ideas can be hard to follow especially in the longer format, for example 1670 and the snake? What kind of meds was she on there?
The ones that stood out to me were 248,315,338, 448, 441, 544, 642, 690, 721, 1412, 1601…
And my favorites are 378 and 501. The line “beyond the dip of bell” has been on my mind ever since.
December 9, 2025
Just finished the exam on this course; the text was one of Dickinson's poem and not an extract from my beloved Poe's stories 3
But that's okay because the teacher gave us one of my favourite poems so I'm not that mad
Anyways, 4 stars because Dickinson made me actually interested in poetry, a genre which I was not drawn to before (not saying I'll read more, but at least I understood the point a little bit more). Some poems are life-changing, others were forgotten as soon as they were read.
Even though poetry still does not move me as much as a good novel, I acknowledge Dickinson's importance in literature; her writing style is so uncommon thus so interesting to analyse!
But that's okay because the teacher gave us one of my favourite poems so I'm not that mad
Anyways, 4 stars because Dickinson made me actually interested in poetry, a genre which I was not drawn to before (not saying I'll read more, but at least I understood the point a little bit more). Some poems are life-changing, others were forgotten as soon as they were read.
Even though poetry still does not move me as much as a good novel, I acknowledge Dickinson's importance in literature; her writing style is so uncommon thus so interesting to analyse!
February 4, 2025
Emily Dickinson was so far ahead of her time when exploring themes (not so much form-wise lol, the constant rhyming was tiring), that i believe it’s very difficult for a lot of people to comprehend what she was saying. I will not pretend I understand all of it, but that is sometimes the point of poetry, much like philosophy- to make you think, question, and give your own interpretation to open-ended writing.
January 23, 2024
510
It was not Death, for I stood up,
And all the Dead, lie down—
It was not Night, for all the Bells
Put out their Tongues, for Noon.
It was not Frost, for on my Flesh
I felt Sirocos—crawl—
Nor Fire—for just my Marble feet
Could keep a Chancel, cool—
And yet, it tasted, like them all,
The Figures I have seen
Set orderly, for Burial,
Reminded me, of mine—
As if my life were shaven,
And fitted to a frame,
And could not breathe without a key,
And 'twas like Midnight, some—
When everything that ticked—has stopped—
And Space stares all around—
Or Grisly frosts—first Autumn morns,
Repeal the Beating Ground—
But, most, like Chaos—Stopless—cool—
Without a Chance, or Spar—
Or even a Report of Land—
To justify—Despair.
It was not Death, for I stood up,
And all the Dead, lie down—
It was not Night, for all the Bells
Put out their Tongues, for Noon.
It was not Frost, for on my Flesh
I felt Sirocos—crawl—
Nor Fire—for just my Marble feet
Could keep a Chancel, cool—
And yet, it tasted, like them all,
The Figures I have seen
Set orderly, for Burial,
Reminded me, of mine—
As if my life were shaven,
And fitted to a frame,
And could not breathe without a key,
And 'twas like Midnight, some—
When everything that ticked—has stopped—
And Space stares all around—
Or Grisly frosts—first Autumn morns,
Repeal the Beating Ground—
But, most, like Chaos—Stopless—cool—
Without a Chance, or Spar—
Or even a Report of Land—
To justify—Despair.
November 28, 2024
I wonder if you can ever “finish” a book of poems? This is has been cover to cover finished but most definitely not finished too!
Thoughtful & beautiful.
Thoughtful & beautiful.
December 28, 2024
The best selection of poems in the whole universe. Periodt. I can't imagine a day without having it around.
November 25, 2023
that poem i cannot live without you had me hysterically sobbing in a public library. nobody understands her like i do (she definitely harboured street-cats in her home and scared children on halloween). we miss you ems
January 3, 2024
this was very good I love her way of writing
December 4, 2024
My friend gave me this book for my birthday because she knows that I’ve been wanting to read these poems. It’s her favourite poet and after listening to her talk about the poems with so much passion and love I wanted to see what they were like. She also put little annotations on some of her favourite poems and also marked the ones that she thought I would like. I love this book because some of the poems really hit hard for me and stuck somewhere deep inside my body and soul where only poetry can really describe those feelings and experiences for me. this book allowed me to have an in-depth conversation with her about her favourite poet which was a wonderful experience to deep in our friendship and to create a middle ground of understanding in our shared love for literature. I love the way that words are used to show the most integral parts of humans and how these poems comment on of human nature and how much we can truly love someone else.
June 14, 2025
I like Emily Dickinson’s poetry for the most part, some are better than others, but she has written some brilliant poems. This is a great collection because it contains a selection of her poetry and has all the well known ones- hope is the thing with feathers, because I could not stop for death, good morning midnight, my life closed twice before its close, started early took my dog. It is good for dipping in and out of when you fancy some poetry.
March 30, 2025
this is fucking poetry
June 18, 2025
brilliant selection of poetry, dickinson questions everything and yet portrays it perfectly.
June 26, 2025
És increiiiiible lu daquesta tia, heu de llegirla ja!!!!!!!
August 10, 2024
I love you Emily Dickinson.
March 17, 2023
No doubt, Dickinson’s poetry is phenomenal and moving and unique. Just not a personal favourite of mine and that’s okay!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews