Further in Summer than the Birds : Emily Dickinson's Nature Mysticism

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Circuit III - (19) Further in Summer than the Birds (J-1068) (F-0895)

Listen to a Snowy Tree Cricket (260K, wav) or Cricket Chorus! (520K, wav)

⁽¹⁾ Further in summer than the birds,
Pathetic from the grass,
⁽²⁾ A minor nation celebrates
Its unobtrusive mass.

⁽³⁾ No ordinance be seen,
So gradual the grace,
⁽⁴⁾ A pensive custom it becomes,
Enlarging loneliness.

⁽⁵⁾ Antiquest felt at noon
When August, burning low,
⁽⁶⁾ Calls forth this spectral canticle,
Repose to typify.

⁽⁷⁾ Remit as yet no grace,
No furrow on the glow,
⁽⁸⁾ Yet a Druidic difference
Enhances nature now.

^{(Below: an original manuscript version
without editing or imposed lineation.)} ⁽¹⁾ Further in Summer
than the Birds
Pathetic from the
Grass
⁽²⁾ A minor Nation
celebrates
Its unobtrusive
Mass.⁽³⁾ No Ordinance be
seen
So gradual the
Grace
⁽⁴⁾ A pensive Custom
it becomes
Enlarging Loneliness.⁽⁵⁾ Antiquest felt at
Noon
When August
burning low
⁽⁶⁾ Arise this spectral
Canticle
Repose to typify⁽⁷⁾ Remit as yet
no Grace
No Furrow on the
Glow
⁽⁸⁾ Yet a Druidic
Difference
Enhances Nature
now~ Emily Dickinson

Slideshow ~ Sanctity!

Commentary adapted from Emily Dickinson's Poems & Letters

^(1-2) "Autumn is among us, though almost unperceived — and the cricket
sings in the morning, now, a most pathetic conduct." ~ (L #936)

^(1-2) "Their names, unless you know them, 'twere useless tell.
Of bumble-bees and other nations the grass is full." ~ (J-1746) (F-1764)

^(1-8) "You have experienced sanctity. . . . Of life to own — from life
to draw — but never touch the reservoir."
~ (L #413) (J-1294) (F-1327)

^(3-8) "Beauty is nature's fact — but witness for her land, and witness
for her sea, the cricket is her utmost of elegy to me."
~ (J-1068-alternative) (F-0895)

^(3-8) "Summer folds her miracle as women do their gown, or priests
adjust the symbols when sacrament is done." ~ (J-0321) (F-0374)

^{(5) (antiquest)} "Mary strokes the sunshine and coaxes it along,
and drives the shadows home — much like a 'honie bee' she seems,
among more antique insects." ~ (L #170)

^(5-6) "If bird the silence contradict or flower presume to show in that
low summer of the west impossible to know." ~ (J-1650) (F-1741)

^{(5-8-early September)} "Are the apples ripe? Have the wild geese
crossed? And did you save the seed of the pond-lily?" ~ (L #294)

^(1-8) September's baccalaureate
A combination is
Of crickets, crows, and retrospects,
And a dissembling breeze

That hints without assuming,
An innuendo sere
That makes the heart put up its fun
And turn philosopher.
~ (J-1271) (F-1313)

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Photo Credit: earlywomenmasters.net ~ Katydid (cricket-like sounds
in autumn), nymph, (Phaneroptera sp.) on Hydrangea