Friday, December 10, 2010

Emily Dickinson

Last night, Emily Dickinson made a rare public appearance, at our library, and transported her audience into the land of poetry. Every seat was filled. And every person present received a gift - of reverie, "aha!", affirmation, consolation, laughter - something that deeply touched his or her soul.
In celebration of Emily's birth, (December 10, 1830), Dr. Barbara Mossberg shared her scholarship and passion for Dickinson and her poetry. She opened with lines from the well-known poem:
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!
With wisdom, humor, and splendid storytelling, Dr. Mossberg embedded us into the existence of the unique and gifted poetess.
Watching Dr. Mossberg is not unlike watching a feather with wings. Her voice, face, and body exude lightness, exuberance, wonder and awe.The evening closed with everyone singing "Happy Birthday, Dear Emily," and eating gingerbread made using Dickinson's recipe.

The evening was sponsored and hosted by the Friends of the Library. As Dr. Mossberg said, "The Friends are truly our friends."

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