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HOMAGE TO DICKINSON, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

Lynn Emanuel's "Homage to Dickinson" is a profound and introspective exploration of solitude, death, and personal identity, rendered with an evocative homage to Emily Dickinson’s thematic and stylistic elements. Through vivid imagery and a reflective tone, Emanuel delves into the contrasting desires for life's simplicity and the complexities of posthumous existence. The poem speaks to the paradoxical yearning for both isolation and the relief of shedding life’s burdens, capturing a deeply personal negotiation with the concept of mortality.

Emanuel begins with a stark declaration of her indifference toward conventional afterlife expectations: "I've never longed for the annulments of Heaven, nor for Hell, that orgy of repenting." This opening line sets the tone for a meditation that is neither about divine salvation nor about fiery damnation but rather a contemplation on the state of non-existence. She rejects both the chaotic repentance associated with hell and the nullifying peace of heaven, suggesting a desire for something more grounded and intimately personal.

The poet expresses a longing for the "loneliness of this slender room and bed, the cool neatness of being dead," revealing a yearning for the serene and uncluttered state of death. This imagery reflects a Dickinsonian fascination with death's quietude and simplicity, elements often romanticized in Dickinson’s own works. Emanuel’s description of death involves a transformation into a state of orderliness and reduction—"to be reduced, cleaned out, a manageable mess"—which starkly contrasts with the often chaotic and burdened state of living.

Her desire for a posthumous existence is depicted in almost domestic terms: "nothing left but knobs and buttons, the skull an empty crock, the pelvis a washed plate, the ribs laid tidily, side by side." This metaphorical reduction of the body to household items symbolizes a cleansing of life’s complexities and a return to elemental forms. Emanuel imagines her remains not as parts of a once-living body but as clean, simple objects, neatly arranged and devoid of any residual self.

The poet's envisioned end state is one of total disassociation from her worldly identity: "And I would be gone, not that stern black dress, not that thing with the Bible on her breasts." Here, she rejects the iconic and somber image of Dickinson, along with any religious connotations, distancing herself from any external markers of identity. Emanuel’s focus shifts inward—to a self-defined essence, stripped of societal and cultural encumbrances.

The closing lines of the poem encapsulate the essence of Emanuel's poetic vision: "I would be alone, alone, in my maidenly tomb, my own woman. Finally. And forever." The repetition of "alone" emphasizes the absolute solitude she desires, a solitude that allows for a profound self-possession. The image of the "maidenly tomb" suggests purity and a return to a state untouched by external influences, where she can truly belong to herself.

"Homage to Dickinson" is thus a deeply personal and philosophical reflection on death, identity, and the desire for solitude. Emanuel uses the framework of homage to connect with Dickinson, not only to explore themes common in Dickinson’s poetry but also to articulate her own unique and contemplative response to the idea of life after death. Through this dialogue with Dickinson, Emanuel crafts a space where she can assert her individuality and her vision of peace in the stark, yet serene, embrace of the grave.


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