Featured Poem: After Great Pain, a Formal Feeling Comes by Emily Dickinson
For the rest of June our weekly Featured Poem will celebrate the month of Pride. We’ve chosen poems by LGBTQ+ authors that link with the meanings associated with the different colours of the Pride flag: red for ‘life’, orange for ‘healing’, yellow for ‘sunlight’, green for ‘nature’, blue for ‘art’, violet for ‘spirit’.
Today’s choice for 'healing' is ‘After Great Pain, a Formal Feeling Comes’ by Emily Dickinson.
After Great Pain, a Formal Feeling Comes
After great pain, a formal feeling comes--
The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs--
The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore,
And Yesterday, or Centuries before?
The Feet, mechanical, go round--
Of Ground, or Air, or Ought--
A Wooden way
Regardless grown,
A Quartz contentment, like a stone--
This is the Hour of Lead--
Remembered, if outlived,
As Freezing persons recollect the Snow--
First--Chill--then Stupor--then the letting go--
by Emily Dickinson
Share
Related Articles
World Book Day® and The Reader celebrate the fun of reading
National reading charity World Book Day is partnering with Shared Reading charity The Reader for a fun-filled day in…
February’s Title Pick for Children: Trash by Andy Mulligan
Through our Bookshelf this year we are exploring the different places that people call home. From the very beginning…
February’s Title Pick for Adults: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens The Reader’s staff and volunteers have been leading Shared Reading groups in many different…
