Is Bulletins all Day
From Immortality.
The Only Shows I see—
Tomorrow and Today—
Perchance Eternity—
The Only One I meet
Is God—The Only Street—
Existence—This traversed
If Other News there be—
Or Admirable Show—
I'll tell it You—
-Fr820, J827, 1865
The Only News I know
Is Bulletins all Day
From Immortality.
Is Bulletins all Day
From Immortality.
I deeply admire people who stay engaged in politics. To do the real day to day work of bettering the planet, it seems necessary to stay connected to the “news.” But it is also all so transient, and moreover, it can affect your mental well being.
Poems are, perhaps, closer to the Truth, "bulletins from Immortality." I think of William Carlos Williams conclusion to his long poem, “Asphodel, that greeny flower,”
Poems are, perhaps, closer to the Truth, "bulletins from Immortality." I think of William Carlos Williams conclusion to his long poem, “Asphodel, that greeny flower,”
"It is difficult/ to get the news from poems/ yet men die miserably every day/ for lack/ of what is found there.// Hear me out/ for I too am concerned/ and every man/ who wants to die at peace in his bed/ besides."
I also think of the words of St. Clare, “Keep your mind on the mirror of eternity.”
The Only Shows I see—
Tomorrow and Today—
Perchance Eternity—
Dickinson is focused on the present and, perchance, Eternity. What does another episode of Modern Family have to do with your actual family? That's what I take from these lines. Be present, with your mind on Eternity.
One wonders what that “Perchance” is motioning toward. What is needed to turn the temporal moment into an eternal one? How do we watch THAT show?
The Only One I meet
Is God—
That’s an amazing thought. I’m reminded of Matthew 25:40. “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
I’ve heard the advice that you should treat everyone as if God was standing in front of you and I think about that sometimes when I’m dealing with difficult people, to remember that they too are divine. It is helpful.
The Only Street—
Existence—This traversed
Existence is the only street? What is Emily getting at here? Perhaps she means that the only path she travels is the fact of being alive. Existence itself is her road. There is no literal street, just the metaphysical one of divine connection.
If Other News there be—
Or Admirable Show—
I'll tell it You—
That ending is funny. It has so much of the wry Dickinson attitude in it. She has just told us that she hears only bulletins from immortality, sees only today, tomorrow, maybe eternity, meets only God and walks only the path of Existence. So when she ends with "If Other News there be... I'll tell it You," she seems to be raising an eyebrow, like she’s saying: ““If there’s anything else worth knowing, some grand spectacle or exciting gossip, anything you think I’m missing, sure, I’ll let you know.”
Okay, thank you, Emily. Carry on! We'll stay tuned for more of your bulletins from Eternity.
The Only One I meet
Is God—
That’s an amazing thought. I’m reminded of Matthew 25:40. “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
I’ve heard the advice that you should treat everyone as if God was standing in front of you and I think about that sometimes when I’m dealing with difficult people, to remember that they too are divine. It is helpful.
The Only Street—
Existence—This traversed
Existence is the only street? What is Emily getting at here? Perhaps she means that the only path she travels is the fact of being alive. Existence itself is her road. There is no literal street, just the metaphysical one of divine connection.
If Other News there be—
Or Admirable Show—
I'll tell it You—
That ending is funny. It has so much of the wry Dickinson attitude in it. She has just told us that she hears only bulletins from immortality, sees only today, tomorrow, maybe eternity, meets only God and walks only the path of Existence. So when she ends with "If Other News there be... I'll tell it You," she seems to be raising an eyebrow, like she’s saying: ““If there’s anything else worth knowing, some grand spectacle or exciting gossip, anything you think I’m missing, sure, I’ll let you know.”
Okay, thank you, Emily. Carry on! We'll stay tuned for more of your bulletins from Eternity.
-/)dam Wade l)eGraff
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