In Martha Nell Smith’s Editorial History I: Beginnings to 1955, she says, “every writer is her first editor,” and goes on to mention how this idea elicits “special consideration” in Emily Dickinson’s case (272). I find this so interesting, on several accounts. We know from reading her letters to T.W. Higginson that she reached out to him seemingly searching for mentorship. He gave her poetic advice that she did not accept (rightfully so!). This leads me to my first (set of) question(s) connected to the quote I pulled–Could Dickinson have wanted to be her first (and only) editor? Why might she have reached out for advice? We know that she never explicitly asked for his advice (it’s just what seems most likely). If she wasn’t asking for feedback, what could she have been searching for? Additionally, the only editing feedback that Dickinson ever implemented was Susan’s advice for poem 124 “Safe in their Alabaster Chambers”. What does this say to you? I find it hard to ignore when thinking about Dickinson’s disapproval with the editing of her poems more generally, too. From what she said in her letter to Higginson about the editing of her work that was published in The Springfield Republican, her frustrations lie in the feeling of edits undermining the nature of the poem. I think that this speaks to how deeply she felt for Sue, beyond the obvious.

Smith also talks about how Sue’s process of assembling the “Book of Emily” was a slow one, partly due to her qualms with categorizing works that she did not believe could be categorized (because of Dickinson’s creative genius, and Sue’s deep affection for her creative genius) and partly due to her working during a time of immense grief. Vinnie was impatient with the speed, or lack thereof, in which Sue was working, so Vinnie discouraged Sue from continuing the project and sought other sources who might complete it faster. I don’t have a sister, and this could very well be Vinnie feeling protective over her sister in a time of grief, but I struggle not to feel a little bit critical over Vinnie in this–especially considering Dickinson not being keen on publishing her own work anyhow. Dickinson was such an appreciator of nature and its processes, and I feel that she would have appreciated Sue taking her time to work through her grief and to consider her qualms with the project. How do you feel about Vinnie’s impatience during this time? Where do you feel this impatience may have stemmed from?

The last lines of poems 5 and 7 stuck out to me immediately. Poem 5 is an assertion of love for Sue which ends in “Sue – forevermore!” Poem 7 rejoices in an everlasting summer that lives inside and ends in “Thy flower – forevermore!” The connection between the two is syntactically obvious, but I am curious about your thoughts about the connection between the two on a deeper level. Could Dickinson be aligning Sue with the summer and the bloom, vice versa, or something else? I really love these parallels and would love to hear your thoughts on them.