Emily Dickinson- Wendy Cope

I loved this poem; it made me laugh the first time I read it because the meaning behind it is true. After reread it to gain a deeper meaning I was giving the impression that the speaker in this poem was one of a younger person, a teenager even. I got this idea because, as younger readers, we view what use to be the norm as something strange, unusual and even a tad annoying. Also the phrase “Higgledy-piggledy Emily Dickson” has a more bright and upbeat tone- more youthful- as oppose to a more stoic or deep tone.

                But moving on from my initial random thought about tone and speaker, let’s talk about meaning. I believe this poem reveals how opinions and writing styles evolve over time. Emily Dickinson is still a world renowned poet even after her death in 1886 but (obviously) things have changed; some of her stylist techniques have not withstood the test of time. If someone, nowadays, attempted to write a poem chalked full of dashes such as Emily did, it would be considered mediocre and a weak writing.

For example: Emily Dickinson’s piece

 [I dwell in Possibility-]

I dwell in Possibility--
A fairer House than Prose--
More numerous of Windows--
Superior--for Doors--
Of Chambers as the Cedars--
Impregnable of Eye--
And for an Everlasting Roof
The Gambrels of the Sky--
Of Visitors--the fairest--
For Occupation--This--
The spreading wide my narrow Hands
To gather Paradise-- 

It’s a beautiful piece, really, but if I tried to publish a poem that looked like that, it wouldn’t work.

I love everything—

Red, ti's wickedly rich—

I’m not really that good—

At writing this poem—But—

I’m not really trying—

See how that doesn’t really gel? Granted the poem is horrid, dashes or no, but without the dashes I’d still be considered a better and cooler poet according to today’s standards. But over all I loved Cope’s poem; it was sweet and light-hearted… My favorite part had to be the second verse “Nowadays, faced with such idiosyncrasy, critics and editors send for the cops.” But the first verse was pretty awesome too. ;)