If you’ve been following along, this post is part of a (nearly) once-a-day-month-long-blogging-brouhaha with my pals Amanda Hollinger, Monica Wyche, and Ami Worthen.
I found this poem while going through some old folders. It started with Emily Dickson and ended with me.
“adored with caution, as a brittle heaven” is no way to approach love.
she sees more than I
knits sweaters I wear
comfort against the bone chill of my fears
and insistent spirits
is it because I feel called to make sense of my past
that I often forget my now
wring my hands
point to the door though no one asked to leave
so easily torn in two
my own skills the finest
me the undoer
me the albatross
that’s where my head goes
until I pull back
past my past
to long days spent climbing trees
splashing through creeks
unabashed
headlong
into everything
though shyly so
when I was older
Annie Dillard recommended
spending the day
as it can’t be taken with
no brittle heaven
no such thing
just open acres
rooms without doors
and a woman with better vision
jennybadman.com 
2 responses to “Day 29: Emily Dickinson’s line as inspiration”
Most people don’t know about the poetry of her secret bastard brother “Ernie” He wrote poems about cool things like hand saws, chisels, and the smell of freshly cut grass.
Hahaha! Love it.