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Emily Dickinson: Genius or Genius?

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Prince of Space:
Hah, I joke.  I honestly do want some discussion from anyone who cares to offer it. :)

Today I was reading up a bit on Ms Dickinson and her tendency to lean toward the agnostic/pagan rather than Christian thoughts.  To support the article, they included a couple of poems where she deliberately mocks God/Jesus and or people who follow Christianity.  Being an atheist(a minority living in the Bible Belt), this intrigued me (as do most 'old age' atheists).  I also happened to think her poems witty (and laughed aloud at a couple).  I'll share those:

"At least to pray is left--is left
Oh Jesus--in the Air--
I know not which thy chamber is--
I'm knocking everywhere."

Another:

"Heavenly Father--take to thee
The supreme iniquity
Fashioned by thy candid Hand
In a moment contraband--
Though to trust us seem to us
More respectful--'We are Dust'--
We apologize to thee for thine own
  Duplicity"

And another that isn't a poem, but rather an excerpt from a letter she sent to a friend:

"That no Flake of [snow] fall on you or them--is a wish that would be Prayer, were Emily not a Pagan."

And the last one I'll share, was one that hit me hard in the heart:

"To be alive--is Power--
Existence in itself
Without a further function--
Omnipotence Enough"

It describes completely how I feel about life, and definitely left me feeling satisfied(hah, as if I'd written it myself).

I will say, there are a lot of her poems that leave me confused or with a headache.  I don't like everything she has written.  However, I'm incredibly intrigued by this woman who seemingly had no need for most human contact and showed great hunger for emotion, beauty of life, and deep thinking.

What do you think of Emily Dickinson?

Surgoshan:
A little obscure for my taste, but I find myself intrigued.

Also, I share with you the pain of being a bible belt atheist.

Prince of Space:

--- Quote from: Surgoshan on 13 Feb 2010, 23:22 ---A little obscure for my taste, but I find myself intrigued.

Also, I share with you the pain of being a bible belt atheist.

--- End quote ---

I suppose my second intent with this post was to discuss atheism if possible. :)  Though that's dangerous water I tread..
 
It's hard to 'come out' here really.  It's not something you can discuss openly without drawing negative(or unwanted) attention a lot of the time.  :\ 

MrSteevo:
The only Dickinson's I have read has been "Because I could not stop for Death", and I must say it provided an interesting view on death not yet taken by any writer of her time. Her life of seclusion adds a certain outlook to her writing you truly won't find anywhere else, and for that she's worth a read. Yet, I can not say she's my favorite poet, female or atheist. This could be just my inexperience with her talking though,

scarred:
i'd put my emily in her dickinson!

wait

that came out wrong

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