Talk:Poems (Dickinson)/There's a certain slant of light

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Latest comment: 13 years ago by Cygnis insignis
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Emily Dickinson's "There's a certain Slant of light," is actually as follows:

There's a certain Slant of light,

Winter Afternoons -

That oppresses, like the Heft

Of Cathedral Tunes -


Heavenly Hurt, it gives us -

We can find no scar,

But internal difference -

Where the Meanings, are -


None may teach it - Any -

'Tis the Seal Despair -

An imperial affliction

Sent us of the Air -


When it comes, the Landscape listens -

Shadows - hold their breath -

When it goes, 'tis like the Distance

On the look of Death -  

Key differences being that in the second line, Dickinson did not write "On winter Afternoon". This was an edited version of the poem and not how it was originally written. Also the third stanza's first line was also modified. This version of Emily Dickinson's poem can be found in The Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry, edited by Margaret Ferguson, Mary Jo Salter, and Jon Stallworthy, fifth edition. Also many more of Dickinson's poems may have been edited from her original writing as her complete works were published first with edits. It was not until the latter part of the 21st century that her works were published as they were written. unsigned comment by Tealeaf (talk) .

This version is from Poems (Dickinson). See title page and source tab. CYGNIS INSIGNIS 17:24, 19 October 2011 (UTC)Reply