“That sacred / Closet”

mansuscript scan (c. 1877)

transcript:

 

 

Johnson version:

1273  

That sacred Closet when you sweep—
Entitled "Memory"—
Select a reverential Broom—
And do it silently.  
'Twill be a Labor of surprise—
Besides Identity
Of other Interlocutors
A probability—  
August the Dust of that Domain—
Unchallenged—let it lie—
You cannot supersede itself
But it can silence you—

middle image taken from “A Foreign Country” Emily Dickinson’s Manuscripts and Their Meanings by Domhnall Mitchell Legacy 17.2 (2000) 174-186 via Project Muse

 

Miller:


MS scan:   “I would not paint …”   & page two (c. 1862)


I would not paint—a picture—
I’d rather be the One
It’s bright impossibility
To dwell—delicious—on—
And wonder how the fingers feel
Whose rare—celestial—stir
Provokes so sweet a Torment—
Such sumptuous—Despair—

I would not talk, like Cornets—
I’d rather be the One
Raised softly to Ceilings—
And out, and easy on—
Through Villages of Ether
Myself endued Balloon
By but a lip of Metal—
The pier to my Pontoon—

Nor would I be a Poet—
It’s finer—own the Ear—
Enamored—impotent—content—
The License to revere—
A luxury so awful
What would the Dower be,
Had I the Art to stun
myself
With Bolts of Melody!

The text follows T. H. Johnson’s edition of The Poems of Emily Dickinson (Cambridge, Mass.: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1955), no. 505, vol. 2, pp. 387-388, although I have adopted two of the variants (provoked for evoked, luxury for privilege) and followed the apparent lineation of the manuscript, rather than Johnson’s, in regard to the penultimate line. –CB

 

Miller:

 



The Sea said … (c. 1872)

ms scan

Spatial Transcription
by Aliki Caloyeras

 t he    S ea   said
“Come”   to the  Brook-
 the    Brook   said
“let    me   grow ”-
 the    Sea   said
“then   you   will
 be a   Sea”-
“I want  a  Brook-
  Come   now ”-
 the   Sea   said
“Go” to  the  Sea.
 the   Sea   said
“I  am   he
 you  cherished ”-
“Learned   Waters -
 Wisdom  is  stale
 to  me ” ——————

 

Transcription
by Aliki Caloyeras

the Sea said
“Come” to the Brook-
the Brook said
“let me grow”-
the Sea said
“then you will
be a Sea”-
“I want a Brook-
Come now”-
the Sea said
“Go” to the Sea.
the Sea said
“I am he
you cherished”-
“Learned Waters-
Wisdom is stale
to me”———

Bianchi:

T HE S EA said “Come” to the Brook,
The Brook said “Let me grow!”
The Sea said “Then you will be a Sea—
I want a brook, Come now!”

Johnson:
1210

The Sea said "Come" to the Brook --
The Brook said "Let me grow" --
The Sea said "Then you will be a Sea --
I want a Brook -- Come now"!
The Sea said "Go" to the Sea --
The Sea said "I am he
You cherished" -- "Learned Waters --
Wisdom is stale -- to Me"


There’s a certain Slant (c. 1861)

scan of ms

Bianchi version

Johnson:

258 

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 --

 

CB transcription 10.14.05:

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
When    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 -.

 

Compare Johnson:

258 

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 --

 


This World is not Conclusion (1862)

ms scan one
two


Johnson --

501

This World is not Conclusion.
A Species stands beyond --
Invisible, as Music --
But positive, as Sound --
It beckons, and it baffles --
Philosophy -- don’t know --
And through a Riddle, at the last --
Sagacity, must go --
To guess it, puzzles scholars --
To gain it, Men have borne
Contempt of Generations
And Crucifixion, shown --
Faith slips -- and laughs, and rallies --
Blushes, if any see --
Plucks at a twig of Evidence --
And asks a Vane, the way --
Much Gesture, from the Pulpit --
Strong Hallelujahs roll --
Narcotics cannot still the Tooth
That nibbles at the soul --

+ a Sequel . + prove it.
+ Sure. + Mouse. .

e.g.:
line 2: Sepcies> Sequel
line 8: guess> prove
3 lines up: Strong> Sure
2 liines up: Tooth> Mouse


"the Brain within" (1863)

 

ED holograph

source: Harvard, open image in new tab for full size.

Jack K

The Brain, within its Groove
Runs Evenly and true-
But- if a splinter swerve-
'Twere easier easier for you-
+
To run a Current back-
When bloods have elip-
tic Hills-
And scooped a turnpike
for themselves-
And + trodden out the Mills.

+ the Waters + blotted out-
shored away-

 

Zoe A

The Brain within its Groove

Runs Evenly, and true

But let A Splinter swerve

Twere Easier for you

+

To put a Current back

When Floods have split

the Hills -

And scooped a Turnpike

for themselves

And trodden out the mills

+ The Waters + blotted out -

shoved away -

 

Natalie:


1- xxx

the Brain , within its Groove

Runs Evenly . and true .

But Let a Splinter Swerve .

‘twer Easier for you .

+

to put a Current back.

When Bloods have slit –

the Hills.

And scooped a turnpike

in themselves .

+

And trodden out the Mills –

,

+ the Waters + blotted out- -

shored away –


JANE

The Brain Within its Groove––
Runs Evenly and True
But Let a Splinter swerve––
‘Twer easier for you

To put a current
Back when floods have slit
The hills and Scoops a turnpike for themselves
And frodden out the Mills.

JOYCE

#3
the Brain , within it’s Groove
Runs Evenly , and true .
But let a Splinter swerve
‘Twere Easier for you.
+
To put a Current back
When Floods have slit
the Hill.
And scooped a Turnpike
for themselves,
And trodden out the Mills
+ The Waters + flotted out -
shored away -

SERENA

1- +++

 

The Brain , within its’ Groove

Runs Evenly and there ,

But Let a Splinter swerve ,

‘Then Easier for Run ,

 

+

To Put - a Current- back,

When bloods have elip-

tic Hills-

And scooped a Turnpike

for themselves ,

And trodden out- the mills-

,

 

The Waters + blotted out- -

shored away -

 

WAI:

1- +++

The Brain, within its Groove

Runs Evenly and true-

But- if a splinter swerve-

‘Twere easier easier for you-

+

To run a Current back-

When bloods have elip-

Tic Hills-

and scooped a turnpike

for themselves-

And + trodden out the Mills.

+ the Waters + blotted out-

shored away-

____________________________

 

Cristianne Miller version:

ED Miller