Poem #88 – Music
I’m curious about the contradiction surrounding music in the second stanza of poem #88. It’s first said in the poem that it’s careless, unintentional even, inferring it’s not entirely significant. However, right after, it’s said that the music acts as an anodyne, a comfort. It makes me kind of wonder what Dickinson’s relationship with music was, or to make it even broader, what the general population’s relationship was. What were people’s outlets that gave them a sense of quiet in the storm?
Maddie, just wanted to mention that Dickinson was an accomplished pianist and a composer/improvisor. Many visitors commented on hearing her play (sometimes from another room) and on her compelling original pieces.
[Once I made myself a nuisance at a Dickinson opera at Wolf Trap (it was terrible) when the creators said they didn’t know if Dickinson knew anything at all about music…. They did know by the end of the evening. #I’ll be that person when defending ED]
Haha I’m glad you were able to set the record straight at the Dickinson opera! That’s very interesting I appreciate you replying and sharing that :))