I started early, took my dog

I started Early – Took my Dog –

And visited the Sea –

The Mermaids in the Basement

Came out to look at me –

And Frigates – in the Upper Floor

Extended Hempen Hands –

Presuming Me to be a Mouse –

Aground – opon the Sands –

But no Man moved Me – till the Tide

Went past my simple Shoe –

And past my Apron – and my Belt

And past my Boddice – too –

And made as He would eat me up –

As wholly as a Dew

Opon a Dandelion's Sleeve –

And then – I started – too –

And He – He followed – close behind –

I felt His Silver Heel

Opon my Ancle – Then My Shoes

Would overflow with Pearl –

Until We met the Solid Town –

No One He seemed to know –

And bowing – with a Mighty look –

At me – The Sea withdrew –

Emily Dickinson.

What does it mean? There are some interpretations here, and you can see an animated version here.

Comments

[Audrey]

This (the Kate Atkinson) is on my list to read, tho I have to read the third one first. Didn't know the title was from Emily!

[Nancy]

I have loved finding both you and Lynne (dgr) posting Emily material. I live 3 1/2 blocks from her house. :-)

[oxslip]

I don't know, but I like the beach, is it Gullane?

[Harriet]

I've never understood Emily Dickinson and still don't despite having read Lyndall Gordon's recent book on her. Love Kate Atkinson's novel though.

[Cornflower]

Nor did I until I read an interview with Kate Atkinson the other day, and that prompted me to look up the poem.

[Cornflower]

Nancy, I'm not sure why the mood has taken me, but I suddenly want to read Emily's poems and that Lyndall Gordon biography - I feel a purchase coming on...

[Cornflower]

It is!

[Cornflower]

I've read very little of ED's work, but I want to know more, and that biography is very tempting.

[adele geras]

I have never understood Emily D but am devoted to her poems nonetheless. Love all the Kate Atkinsons. I think the He in the poem MIGHT be the sea....who knows?? The picture of Gullane makes me glad I chose that place for my heroine in Hester's Story to go to at a crucial point in the novel. I've never been there, but it looks amazing.

[Dark Puss]

Resist! Resist! The book (I assume I have the correct one) is available at two of your public libraries.

;-)

[Sandy]

I like to think about poetry (and other arts) as it relates to me and my understanding of it. What the authors may have meant or how they understood can be interesting but is not necessary for my own enjoyment.

I found the the books about Jackson Brodie to be not as enjoyable as the TV series (unusally for me).