tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4029797379711350813.post2562871067463776916..comments2024-03-29T06:02:33.720-07:00Comments on the prowling Bee: A word is dead when it is saidSusan Kornfeldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384011972647144453noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4029797379711350813.post-82009190544239989472023-04-06T18:01:41.355-07:002023-04-06T18:01:41.355-07:00Above, Susan K reminds us that “The same words spo...Above, Susan K reminds us that “The same words spoken by one actor in one director’s vision will mean something entirely different in another movie”, and Zefirino elaborates, “meanings of words change over time, and attaching meanings to words isn't an easy task, given that words not only evolve but might intrinsically be different for different people, or even have multiple meanings”. <br /><br />As an example, ED used the word “intercourse” in ‘He was my host — he was my guest’ (F1754, undated):<br /><br />He was my host — he was my guest,<br />I never to this day<br />If I invited him could tell,<br />Or he invited me.<br /><br />So infinite our intercourse<br />So intimate, indeed,<br />Analysis as capsule seemed<br />To keeper of the seed.<br /><br />Judith Farr (1992) opined that this and other Master poems “focus on the sexual act itself”. However, the authoritative Oxford English Dictionary reports that use of "intercourse" as a sexual term in general discourse began after 1900. Before the early 1900s, “intercourse” meant “conversation”.<br />Larry Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02810899482852120751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4029797379711350813.post-37103122836756827812023-04-06T15:55:44.807-07:002023-04-06T15:55:44.807-07:00Franklin (1998) published the poem’s format as Sus...Franklin (1998) published the poem’s format as Susan K shows above, which matches two Norcross (cousins) transcripts of ED’s original copy sent to them. Mabel Todd (1896) and Johnson (1955) published the poem as a single six-line stanza. No original ED manuscripts survives.Larry Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02810899482852120751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4029797379711350813.post-20569582731854995552023-01-27T08:26:35.515-08:002023-01-27T08:26:35.515-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4029797379711350813.post-90577915568562985122021-05-11T12:27:28.604-07:002021-05-11T12:27:28.604-07:00Words are powerful :)Words are powerful :)trainofthoughthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04444799630883124156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4029797379711350813.post-46828084483256813682021-03-23T21:23:39.300-07:002021-03-23T21:23:39.300-07:00It is a philosophical poem inquiring about what we...It is a philosophical poem inquiring about what we let loose and for how long when we say something. Words are born not buried when we speak: they become alive.Susan Kornfeldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05384011972647144453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4029797379711350813.post-76777832331855671272021-03-23T14:41:39.308-07:002021-03-23T14:41:39.308-07:00What the kind from the poetry? What the kind from the poetry? Me Raihan Muflihhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746039847062143459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4029797379711350813.post-89208608798343308442021-01-20T05:29:12.625-08:002021-01-20T05:29:12.625-08:00Wow this was so beautifully written.. Wish i coul...Wow this was so beautifully written.. Wish i could write like this somedayNabanWriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03522835445644343330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4029797379711350813.post-54823276980858873572020-06-03T11:01:00.280-07:002020-06-03T11:01:00.280-07:00As with all poems, we are given insight into our o...As with all poems, we are given insight into our own souls,a spark of truth and question has come alive! Don Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05705341136820644518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4029797379711350813.post-26213878861470684822018-08-01T00:00:57.503-07:002018-08-01T00:00:57.503-07:00Wow. Interesting!Wow. Interesting!Prades Zebuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13769133497519449607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4029797379711350813.post-30116857138541337242017-10-18T20:27:21.597-07:002017-10-18T20:27:21.597-07:00I think I went over it pretty well in my discussio...I think I went over it pretty well in my discussion. See if you agree with it!<br />Susan Kornfeldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05384011972647144453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4029797379711350813.post-62792778994204305362017-10-18T19:00:53.013-07:002017-10-18T19:00:53.013-07:00What is your overall thesis of this poem? What is your overall thesis of this poem? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4029797379711350813.post-48977552536583640292013-06-02T21:21:35.818-07:002013-06-02T21:21:35.818-07:00I can't quite see the "just" as bein...I can't quite see the "just" as being a shorthand for "justice" as it doesn't fit grammatically and justice doesn't seem (to me) to figure in. Re-reading the poem with your comments in mind, hnowever, I do see the salvation aspect. The words were dead to the uncomprehending of the world; but in truth they were only born -- much as someone would be born again or saved. Saying (or perhaps in Dickinson's case, writing) the words gives them life. It is a form of salvation -- and would be for Dickinson who may have found her 'salvation' in her verse.<br /> thanks for commenting!Susan Kornfeldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05384011972647144453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4029797379711350813.post-43383304023791105232013-05-29T07:00:06.440-07:002013-05-29T07:00:06.440-07:00I'm torn about the editing--I wonder if this i...I'm torn about the editing--I wonder if this is the way Emily wrote the poem. I think Franklin's version is probably the way she wrote it. The way I had previously seen this poem was in two stanzas; each stanza had three lines. The way I read it was<br /><br />"A word is dead<br />When it is said,<br />Some say.<br /><br />I say it just<br />Begins to live<br />That day."<br /><br />In this version, I had read three meanings for the word "just." (1) Just could refer to her own whim or fancy--boldly asserting her word over someone else's and giving herself the final say over the matter (as in I just say this instead of that);(2) It could refer to morality, if one takes just to be short of justice (I'm quite partial to this interpretation), (3) just could also refer to "axiomatic truth"--so, whenever a word is uttered it is alive by sheer force of reality (as meanings of words change over time, and attaching meanings to words isn't an easy task, given that words not only evolve but might intrinsically be different for different people, or even have multiple meanings--"just" in this case).<br /><br />In my very first reading, I also thought the "word" she was eluding to was "God's word," and that "day" refers to "Salvation day." Except, the day after my reading, I thought (and now think) that she just meant the comparison to take place without endorsing that particular interpretation. In fact, the word she is uttering is her word--"I say..." So, her own peace of mind (or personal salvation) comes from "just" believing her own word is alive.Zefirinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05826052577521342639noreply@blogger.com