Emily Dickson Poem on Lincoln?

[ELCore]

The following poem by Emily Dickinson has, I believe, usually been understood has being about a fallen soldier or soldiers (most likely a Federal soldier in the Civil War):

Quote:Step lightly on this narrow spot —
The broadest Land that grows
Is not so ample as the Breast
These Emerald Seams enclose.

Step lofty, for this name be told
As far as Cannon dwell
Or Flag subsist or Fame export
Her deathless Syllable.

In the Johnson edition, it's # 1183; in the Franklin edition, it's # 1227; in the Miller edition, it's the second poem on page 508.

Dickinson sent this poem to her mentor Thomas Wentworth Higginson in November 1871. (Yes, he of the 1st South Carolina Volunteers.)

Cristanne Miller, in her new edition of all of Emily's poems, notes as follows:

Quote:In January 1871 a statue of Abraham Lincoln by Vinnie Ream was unveiled in Washington, D.C. In September 1871, Liincoln's remains were moved to a monument in Springfield, Illinois, and another statue (by Randolph Rogers) was dedicated in Philadelphia. ED knew that TWH would be aware of these events....

The implication is clear, I believe, that Miller thinks the poem is actually about Abraham Lincoln. Considering the superlative praise, I think that makes sense.

[Gene C]

In reading this, do you think "Her" in the last line refers to the United States?
Or, could it be the person who died, which would make this poem about a woman?

Regarding Emily Dickson, this interesting comment in Wikipedia

Around this time, Dickinson's behavior began to change. She did not leave the Homestead unless it was absolutely necessary and as early as 1867, she began to talk to visitors from the other side of a door rather than speaking to them face to face.[85] She acquired local notoriety; she was rarely seen, and when she was, she was usually clothed in white. Dickinson's one surviving article of clothing is a white cotton dress, possibly sewn circa 1878–1882.[86] Few of the locals who exchanged messages with Dickinson during her last fifteen years ever saw her in person.[87] Austin and his family began to protect Emily's privacy, deciding that she was not to be a subject of discussion with outsiders.[88] Despite her physical seclusion, however, Dickinson was socially active and expressive through what makes up two-thirds of her surviving notes and letters. When visitors came to either the Homestead or the Evergreens, she would often leave or send over small gifts of poems or flowers.[89] Dickinson also had a good rapport with the children in her life. Mattie Dickinson, the second child of Austin and Sue, later said that "Aunt Emily stood for indulgence."[90] MacGregor (Mac) Jenkins, the son of family friends who later wrote a short article in 1891 called "A Child's Recollection of Emily Dickinson", thought of her as always offering support to the neighborhood children.[90]

When Higginson urged her to come to Boston in 1868 so that they could formally meet for the first time, she declined, writing: "Could it please your convenience to come so far as Amherst I should be very glad, but I do not cross my Father's ground to any House or town".[91] It was not until he came to Amherst in 1870 that they met. Later he referred to her, in the most detailed and vivid physical account of her on record, as "a little plain woman with two smooth bands of reddish hair ... in a very plain & exquisitely clean white pique & a blue net worsted shawl."[92] He also felt that he never was "with any one who drained my nerve power so much. Without touching her, she drew from me. I am glad not to live near her."[93]

[STS Lincolnite]

(09-15-2016 09:21 AM)Gene C Wrote:  In reading this, do you think "Her" in the last line refers to the United States?
Or, could it be the person who died, which would make this poem about a woman?

"Or Flag subsist or Fame export
Her deathless Syllable."

Gene, when I read that, I get the impression that "her" is a personification of "fame" in the line above. Fame is exporting her deathless syllable, may be another way to state it. To me it seems to say that although the subject of the poem is gone, he or she has achieved a level of fame that won't allow him/her to truly die (metaphorically of course). Fame is a deathless syllable because those with fame never die in the sense they are never forgotten. And that would certainly seem to lend credence to the idea the poem was about Lincoln. The time in which he lived, the person he was, and maybe most of all, the way in which he died, cemented the fact he would never be forgotten

I'm certainly not saying my impression is correct, just the way I interpret the poem. That's one thing I like about poetry. It can be interpreted in many ways by many people so that they might bring a different meaning to each reader.

I have never read Dickinson's correspondence to know if she ever expressed her feelings toward Lincoln himself. I do know that her father was a Congressman and was among those that, after the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, broke away from their political affiliations to start their own party. A party that would come to be known as the Republican Party.

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I also found this little tidbit on Emily Dickinson and the Civil War.

https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/civil_war

[RJNorton]

(09-15-2016 09:21 AM)Gene C Wrote:  She acquired local notoriety; she was rarely seen, and when she was, she was usually clothed in white. Dickinson's one surviving article of clothing is a white cotton dress, possibly sewn circa 1878–1882

Here is a photo of it:

[L Verge]

That appears to me to be more of a night gown or morning robe???

[RJNorton]

There is discussion of it here.

[LincolnMan]

Fascinating. She is my favorite. "This is my letter to the world, that never wrote to me..."
So gifted and so sad...

[L Verge]

(09-15-2016 03:11 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  There is discussion of it here.

Thanks for the reference, Roger. I have both one of my grandmother's morning robes (1899) and my great-grandmother's (ca. 1860). From what I had learned, such robes are one step up from what we would call a bathrobe and one step below the first actual dress of the day. It went on top of the first few layers of undergarments and was suitable to be seen in while doing correspondence, chores, etc.

[ELCore]

(09-15-2016 09:21 AM)Gene C Wrote:  In reading this, do you think "Her" in the last line refers to the United States?
Or, could it be the person who died, which would make this poem about a woman?

I agree with STS Lincolnite that "Her" refers to "Fame". Emily's use of pronouns was, shall we say, idiosyncratic.

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(09-15-2016 02:49 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(09-15-2016 09:21 AM)Gene C Wrote:  She acquired local notoriety; she was rarely seen, and when she was, she was usually clothed in white. Dickinson's one surviving article of clothing is a white cotton dress, possibly sewn circa 1878–1882

Here is a photo of it:

I visited the Dickinson Homestead in June 1996, and I saw that very dress. It was kept in her bedroom, if I recall correctly.

[Gene C]

Thanks for the clarification. I don't read much poetry, although I do like some of the poems of Shel Silverstein
(Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic.)
I also enjoy the book of Psalms.

[Juan Marrero]

Emily Dickinson called Lincoln "the Still Man" in one of her letters. It seems she made no other reference to him. She did not explain what she meant precisely by "Still Man." But it conjures up the idea someone maintaining balance in an impossible situation. Lincoln alluded to such when he said he needed God, but must have Kentucky.

[David Lockmiller]

I just thought that I would repost what Laurie Verge posted above at post #8. Only she could have made an important personal historical post like this.

Thanks for the reference, Roger. I have both one of my grandmother's morning robes (1899) and my great-grandmother's (ca. 1860). From what I had learned, such robes are one step up from what we would call a bathrobe and one step below the first actual dress of the day. It went on top of the first few layers of undergarments and was suitable to be seen in while doing correspondence, chores, etc.

[LincolnMan]

I just reread this fascinating post. It was even better the second time!