[amicus_curiae]

Okay — first a story that will make sense only in time.

When I was in the fourth grade I read Emily Dickinson for the first time. I thought that I’d discovered my Personal Poet, so obscure that she was mine alone. I was particularly enamoured of (quoting from memory):

Because I could not stop for Death
He kindly stopped for me.
The Carriage held but just Ourselves
And Immortality.

Lately, I have been acutely feeling my mortality.

And though I’ve long felt ‘hugs’ silly, and refused to dole them out, I’m now wallowing in the Milk of Human Kindness and indiscriminately hugging those that touch any human nerve.

I’ve become a hugging ho. And proud of it.

Certainly my intimacy with mortality has played a part but, honestly, the kindness and support that other (not to be named) members here have demonstrated — as well as a not to be named administrator (sabby) — have fairly overwhelmed me.

I am only now realizing the importance of kindness. And of real-life and digital hugs.

[lizardlady]

for you, if it's okay..... {*{*{*{*amicus_curiae*}*}*}*}

[*Laurie*]

and again

I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us — don't tell!
They'd banish us, you know.

How dreary to be somebody!
How public, like a frog
To tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!

I, too, discovered Miss Dickinson in the 4th grade and never forgot that first poem.

[LiteraryLark]

Okay, I am so lame...I've never ever understood poetry. I've read dozens and dozens of poems and it goes way over my head. When I listen to music, most of the time I don't understand the lyrics. Yes, my brain is a little wonky.

But I am a big hugger so I'll send you the biggest bear hug I can muster. RRRRRAAAAAAWWWWRRRRR *tackles you and bear hug ensues* "My wittle amicus needz a hug!" *amicus screams* "Noooooo I'm not used to bear hugs!" RAAWWWRRR!

I could seriously hug you all day. I could make a living out of giving hugs. <3 <3 <3

[Carmina]

My favourite Emily Dickinson poem set to beautiful music by Copland - kills me every time I hear this

This is my favourite version of the whole suite

[Taylor27]

Hugs

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by LiteraryLark

Okay, I am so lame...I've never ever understood poetry. I've read dozens and dozens of poems and it goes way over my head. When I listen to music, most of the time I don't understand the lyrics. Yes, my brain is a little wonky.

But I am a big hugger so I'll send you the biggest bear hug I can muster. RRRRRAAAAAAWWWWRRRRR *tackles you and bear hug ensues* "My wittle amicus needz a hug!" *amicus screams* "Noooooo I'm not used to bear hugs!" RAAWWWRRR!

I could seriously hug you all day. I could make a living out of giving hugs. <3 <3 <3

We are each so individually wonky! We are each so very unique! It may be a bit overwhelming to consider that there’s no other person in the world quite as peculiarly particular as the ‘we,’ the ‘us,’ or has there ever been nor will there ever be, but it’s true, so very true.

I can, we all can, divine probable personalities from what is shared here and, having said that, my divination of you, dearest, is that you’re loving life, that you’ve passion and goodness and flair — all despite your ‘disability’ to understand poetry and lyrics (the words that, easily, engage, have engaged, the best portions of my puny brain)!

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

and again

I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us — don't tell!
They'd banish us, you know.

How dreary to be somebody!
How public, like a frog
To tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!

I, too, discovered Miss Dickinson in the 4th grade and never forgot that first poem.

And were you disappointed to find that Miss Emily was not the Obsure Personal Poet, not your singular epiphany, but rather (eek!) as pop-popular as any poet found in Norton anthologies?

I still love reading her. Secret: I don’t like — never liked — Robert Frost. I adore Poe’s poetry and prose and have openly argued that he is America’s greatest poet.

(I’ve been chain-smoking for 24-hours.)

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by Carmina

My favourite Emily Dickinson poem set to beautiful music by Copland - kills me every time I hear this

This is my favourite version of the whole suite

Beautiful. Just so very beautiful.

Thank you.