Hero's: Emily

A Word Sketch by Michael Easterling

1/1/21

Emily went to a Prep School as a child,

then to one year at Mt. Holyoke.

Other than that she didn’t travel and

had little experience beyond her study and front porch, 

her family compound and provincial New England town.

Her family was well-to-do and

didn’t face the hardships many families face.

She never worked a conventional day in her life

Some say she had epilepsy,-

not the grand mal type,

more like absences, short periods when she would space out,

this being the reason she kept to herself.

Also there were struggles with a 

sister-in -law and her brother’s mistress and 

there was a family feud which

took a toll on all family members.

But nothing really seems to explain 

how she became so deep, so profound, and 

how she knew so much about life.

These are her words about Love

“Come with me this morning 

to the church within our hearts,

where the bells are always ringing and

the preacher, whose name is Love,

shall intercede for us.” 

her words about the Soul

“The soul should always stand ajar, 

to welcome the ecstatic experience.”

“The soul has moments of escape-

when bursting all the doors-

She dances like a Bomb, abroad- 

and swings open the Hours.”

her words about the Written Word

“A letter is the best visitation - there are no interruptions.”

‘I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word.

Sometimes I write one, andI look at it until it begins to shine.”

.

 “There is no frigate like a Book

to take us Lands away, 

nor courser like a Page of prancing Poetry.

The Traverse may the poorest take

without oppress of Toll.

How frugal is the Chariot 

that bears the Human Soul.”

her words about Human Nature

“I’m nobody! Who are you?

Are you nobody too? 

How dreary to be somebody!

How public like a frog.

To tell your name the livelong day

To the admiring bog.”

her words about Death

“Because I could not stop for Death,

He kindly stopped for me.

The Carriage held but just Ourselves, 

And Immortality.”

her words about Hope

“Hope is the thing with feathers-

that perches in the soul-

And sings the tune without words-

And never stops - at all.”

Emily was very plain but very  Beautiful.

She mocked God but was a Mystic.

She seemed to be weak 

but was Stronger than all those around her.

She could be Dark but she was Alive, Fun and Witty.

Vincent felt the Stars were bursting with life -

Emily felt that Words were bursting with life -

that  they were Magic.