Emily Dickinson - Some keep the Sabbath going to the Church

June 8, 2009

A poem sent to us by Ivan

Here's your Daily Poem from the Poetry Chaikhana --

[324] Some keep the Sabbath going to the Church

By Emily Dickinson(1830 - 1886)

Some keep the Sabbath going to the Church I keep it, staying at Home With a Bobolink for a Chorister And an Orchard, for a Dome Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice I just wear my Wings And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,Our little Sexton sings.God preaches, a noted Clergyman And the sermon is never long,So instead of getting to Heaven, at last I'm going, all along.

-- from The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, Edited by Thomas H. Johnson

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Thought for the Day:

Be just selfish enoughto insist on what isspiritually important to you.

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Hi Alan -I like the way Emily Dickinson talks about true worship being at home -- or within oneself -- rather than requiring church. She celebrates a worship that is simple, essential, direct.For her, trees form the roof of her church ("an Orchard, for a Dome").It is in her solitary moments and her private communions with nearby nature that Dickinson hears her sermons. She finds within this interior world that God preaches to her directly -- "a noted Clergyman" indeed!I especially love the closing lines:So instead of getting to Heaven, at last I'm going, all along.The journey to heaven has become a part of her, it fills her entire world. It is not relegated to the future, but a continuous unfolding in the present.Have a beautiful day!IvanPS - If you want to read about the time I was a murder suspect, check out

the blog link below...

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New on the Poetry Chaikhana BlogIn addition to the daily poem, other recent blog posts include:

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Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.

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