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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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Houghton Library - p. 2, L378, J986, Fr1096

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Credits: Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Dickinson, Emily, 1830-1886. A note and poem (Emily) to Susan Huntington Dickinson, [late 1872] Ink; 3 1/2p. MS Am 1118.5 (B193). Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
Houghton Library - p. 2, L378, J986, Fr1096
Publication History
Springfield Daily Republican (14 February 1866), 1, from a lost copy perhaps sent to Susan Dickinson ([A]); also Springfield Weekly Republican (17 February 1866), 7. Poems (1891), 142-43, as six quatrains, from the set (B). Poems (1955), 711-14 ([A] summarized, B principal, C, and another conjectured for Higginson); CP (1960), 459-60 (B). Letters (1958), 498-99 (C). MB (1981), 1137-39 (B), in facsimile. (J986). Franklin Variorum 1998 (F1096C).
-History from Franklin Variorum 1998

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Image Metadata

Imported: 2013-10-21 13:00:00 -0400
Order: 2
Order Label
Label: p. 2, L378, J986, Fr1096
Filename: ms_am_1118_5_B193_0002

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Text

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F1096C - A narrow fellow in the grass

A narrow Fellow
in the Grass
Occasionally rides -
You may have
met him?
Did you not
His notice instant is -

The Grass divides
as with a Comb -
A spotted Shaft
is seen,
And then it closes
at your Feet
And opens
further on -

He likes a
Boggy Acre -
A Floor too
cool for Corn -
But when a
Boy and Barefoot
I more than
once at Noon

Have passed
I thought a
Whip Lash
Unbraiding in the
Sun
When stooping
to secure it
It wrinkled
And was gone -

Several of
Nature's People
I know and they
know me
I feel for
them a transport
Of Cordiality

But never met
this Fellow
Attended or
alone
Without a
tighter Breathing
And Zero at
the Bone.

About Work

First Line/Title: A narrow fellow in the grass
Date: 1865
Edition: Franklin Variorum 1998
Number: F1096C
Textual Notes: Emendation
3 not] not?
13 whip lash] whip-lash
Division
1 in |
3 Him - |
5 as |
6 is |
7 closes |
9 Boggy |
10 cool |
11 and | Barefoot - ||
12 at |
13 thought, |
15 secure |
16 was |
17 Nature's |
18 they know |
19 a |
21 this |
22 alone ||
23 tighter |
Division
1 Fellow |
3 have |
3 him? |
4 is - ||
5 divides |
6 Shaft |
7 closes |
8 opens |
9 a |
10 too |
11 a |
12 than |
12 Noon ||
13 passed |
13 a |
14 the |
15 stooping |
16 wrinkled |
17 of |
18 they |
19 for |
20 Cordiality ||
21 met |
22 or |
23 a |
24 at |

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Work Metadata

Manuscript: Three fair copies (one lost), variant, about 1865 and 1872. The poem was published in the Springfield Daily Republican on 14 February 1866 under the title "The Snake." The source was a copy now lost, perhaps one sent about 1865 to Susan Dickinson and later passed to the Republican.
Notes: About late 1872 ed sent the text to Susan Dickinson (hb193), perhaps in response to a request (Susan's copy having been lost earlier to the Republican). Her note is headed "My Sue" and signed "Emily." Louise and Frances Norcross were expected that evening; ed encouraged Susan to come too:
Textual Notes: Emendation
3 not] not?
13 whip lash] whip-lash
Division
1 in |
3 Him - |
5 as |
6 is |
7 closes |
9 Boggy |
10 cool |
11 and | Barefoot - ||
12 at |
13 thought, |
15 secure |
16 was |
17 Nature's |
18 they know |
19 a |
21 this |
22 alone ||
23 tighter |
Division
1 Fellow |
3 have |
3 him? |
4 is - ||
5 divides |
6 Shaft |
7 closes |
8 opens |
9 a |
10 too |
11 a |
12 than |
12 Noon ||
13 passed |
13 a |
14 the |
15 stooping |
16 wrinkled |
17 of |
18 they |
19 for |
20 Cordiality ||
21 met |
22 or |
23 a |
24 at |
Publications: Springfield Daily Republican (14 February 1866), 1, from a lost copy perhaps sent to Susan Dickinson ([A]); also Springfield Weekly Republican (17 February 1866), 7. Poems (1891), 142-43, as six quatrains, from the set (B). Poems (1955), 711-14 ([A] summarized, B principal, C, and another conjectured for Higginson); CP (1960), 459-60 (B). Letters (1958), 498-99 (C). MB (1981), 1137-39 (B), in facsimile. (J986)

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