Within Golden Walls, Love's Gardens Await
Poet's Notes
Emily Dickinson
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Emily Dickinson
Photograph of Emily Dickinson, seated, at the age of 16
Daguerreotype taken at Mount Holyoke, December 1846 or early 1847; the only authenticated portrait of Emily Dickinson after childhood[1]
Born Emily Elizabeth Dickinson
December 10, 1830
Amherst, Massachusetts, US
Died May 15, 1886 (aged 55)
Amherst, Massachusetts, US
Occupation Poet
Alma mater Mount Holyoke Female Seminary
Notable works List of Emily Dickinson poems
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (December 10, 1830 – May 15, 1886) was an American poet.
Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts into a prominent family with strong ties to its community. After studying at the Amherst Academy for seven years in her youth, she briefly attended the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before returning to her family's house in Amherst.
Some argue that Dickinson lived much of her life in reclusive isolation. Considered an eccentric by locals, she developed a noted penchant for white clothing and became known for her reluctance to greet guests or, later in life, to even leave her bedroom. Dickinson never married, and most friendships between her and others depended entirely upon correspondence.[2]
While Dickinson was a prolific private poet, fewer than a dozen of her nearly 1,800 poems were published during her lifetime.[3] The work that was published during her lifetime was usually altered significantly by the publishers to fit the conventional poetic rules of the time. Her 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.[4] Many of her poems deal with themes of death and immortality, two recurring topics in letters to her friends.
Although Dickinson's acquaintances were most likely aware of her writing, it was not until after her death in 1886—when Lavinia, Dickinson's younger sister, discovered her cache of poems—that the breadth of her work became apparent to the public. Her first collection of poetry was published in 1890 by personal acquaintances Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Mabel Loomis Todd, though both heavily edited the content. A 1998 New York Times article revealed that of the many edits made to Dickinson's work, the name "Susan" was often deliberately removed. At least 11 of Dickinson's poems were dedicated to sister-in-law Susan Huntington Gilbert Dickinson, though all the dedications were obliterated, presumably by Todd.[5] A complete, and mostly unaltered, collection of her poetry became available for the first time when scholar Thomas H. Johnson published The Poems of Emily Dickinson in 1955.
(I.)
Within Golden Walls, Love's Gardens Await
Ripe are swelled grapes upon glowing vine
my darling on love's bounty we shall dine
in our paradise rests more than a dream
there flows truest joy from Heaven's first stream.
Within golden walls, love's gardens await
We should tarry not, best not to tempt Fate.
Morn's dew adds luster to romantic skins
my darling, now rest of our lives begins
in this our joy renews our dearest hope
that we waited, choosing not to elope.
Within golden walls, love's gardens await
We should tarry not, best not to tempt Fate.
Soon we shall entwine in our bliss, love's bed
live true our blessing because we have wed
within God's grace, we will bear ripest fruit
allow Love and Hope to take deeper root.
Within golden walls, love's gardens await
We should tarry not, best not to tempt Fate.
Robert J. Lindley, 2-10-2019
Rhyme, ( Golden Bliss Of Love's Luscious Bounty)
Dedicated to Emily Dickinson
(II)
Such Beauty, Could Only Be Divinely Crafted
Held aloof, her shining gold crown intact
Her aura casting forth winds that so soothe
Glory divinely cast, none could retract
Her song and dance both so pleasantly smooth.
An angel sent down to earth to relay
Promised words that broken lives may save
Nightmares from bleeding from night into day
As dark, roaming shadows of ashen grey.
Her smile giving warmth to tormented souls
She loving all with Love, her gentle touch
Pure waters poured from angelic bowls
A soft kiss given to those needing such.
Held aloof, her shining gold crown intact.
Glory divinely cast, none could retract.
Robert J. Lindley, 2-07-2019
Sonnet, ( Composed as a Emily Dickinson dedication poem)
(III.)
As Sad Echoing Moans Fill Empty Halls
I hold the hurt, embrace its deepest cuts
to feel even a small part of your love.
Tho' your love was full of ifs, and's and but's
I thought you would stay, when push came to shove.
You gone, I reside in this vacant tomb
your night's loving no longer keeps me warm.
You ran away, ending life from your womb
thus did us both, eternal pain and harm.
I cry because, this world gives no relief
as sad echoing moans fill empty halls.
This nightmare, agony of disbelief
forever haunts my soul with empty calls!
With my life now in total disarray.
For love's return, I now sincerely pray.
Robert J. Lindley,
Sonnet, ( Love's Deepest Pain)
Dedicated to Emily Dickinson
Part One of three dedicated to Dickinson.
Copyright © Robert Lindley | Year Posted 2019
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