A Narrow Fellow In the Grass- Remastered.

Week 5: Write a poem like Emily Dickinson

Starting line: “A narrow Fellow in the Grass-“

A narrow Fellow in the Grass-

Wanders- consumed was I-

And there’s a time his head did click-

There he silently lay-

–

Senseless sadness left in shade-

Upon his bony name-

The flowers writhed in subtle winds-

They did float far away-

–
–

–

Through a labyrinth much like the sky-

Shadows and light do play-

Shedding petals along the ground-

Blink once, they’re quick to fade-

–

I sat and saw and see did I –

In out and up and down-

He fell she tripped they slid – along –

The undulating ground-

–

White was I, passion influx – when

I saw her pretty face-

But then eyes died and now, I’s dark-

is she the enemy?

–

“Murder! The fellow in the grass”-

Waited… they could not see-

A prowling creature with sharp teeth-

Eyes gone – now please take me!

Important parts of Emily Dickinson’s Poetry:

Repetition and imagery
Death / life
Slant rhyme
Punctuation
Abcb rhyme scheme

Poem is written from my perspective, critiquing a person without ‘vision’ and how it affects their existence. The poem reflects life and death and critiques people’s journey through life, specifically looking at mortality. If one can live their life utilising depth and vision, death will be the next natural step to ones existence. Thus, allowing an individual to embrace immanent death.

This is a social critique on humans who are consumed in societal values and materialism, and how they really can’t see and have no depth of cha racter or sense of self.

These values and critiques on humans and perspectives of death are common in Dickinson’s poetry.

4 thoughts on “A Narrow Fellow In the Grass- Remastered.”

I really like this poem, Victoria! I think you have really encapsulated the essence of Emily Dickinson! I think this poem is very rich and deep in meaning. I agree with your perspective and honestly think that Dickinson would too! I think in today’s in modern day society with the boom of technology you are completely right to say that some lack character or sense of self because we have become a society so focused on reflecting those we see on social media or being better ‘than’. I think it is also interesting to look at the theme of your poem and think about what our modern day world would look like through the eyes of Emily Dickinson. Considering Dickinson seemed to value human and the perspective of death so heavily as you stated, i think if she were to see our world today with this rise and and addiction to social media she would have even more to say! For your next poem you write, if you choose to do one, i think maybe showing the distinct stanza’s would really add to the effect of your poem! Good job!

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Hey Victoria, nice work encapsulating the writing style of Dickinson. That level of sudden death, vivid imagery and rhyme style hits it spot on. I do find it a little hard to to see the connection between the theme of people lacking depth. I see the lack of vision with the connection between seeing and using the eyes as a reacurring metaphor and the undulating ground representing the every changing landscape. Great piece regardless.

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