Emily Dickinson Using Facebook?
This new world is far from what the likes of that which Walt Whitman or Emily Dickinson once knew. I wonder if they would have incorporated the wonderful new things of technology into their poetry, like the overpowering realm of Facebook and cell phones (had they existed then).
Walt often wrote about the contemporary ocean vessels of his day, which were cutting edge at the time. Likewise, Emily wrote about horses and carriages, the modern day equivalent to our own automobiles. So I think she did incorporate some of the current technology into her poetry. Today we envision Walt's ships and Emily's carriages as quaint. Perhaps future generations will see such references to the technology in our lives as quaint, or perhaps things like Facebook will eventually fade away into obscurity leaving our future readers unable to understand it.
In any case I think Emily would have used Facebook profusely as she corresponded with her friends. Although she rarely ventured out to meet them face to face, she was fond of writing letters with them. So that's why I wonder about it.
A few weeks ago I sent a "friend request" to a lovely and very published poet on Facebook and later I was away from home when my cell phone buzzed. Pushing a couple of buttons I discovered that Facebook sent me a notification to explain that my new friend accepted my request! I was excited and when finally returning home I composed the following poem in honor of her. I don't know if generations 100 years from now will understand the references, but I think most of us can. I hope you enjoy my little poem. Thank you for visiting.
New World Friends
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The morning simmered the glistening dew,
returning it's angelic luster to the heavens.
And the bees
played in threes
round the lilacs in dozens...
There my heart laid amidst the blooms,
the springing day and sprouting shrooms,
when my pocket buzzed with such unrest,
and saw you accepted my friend request....
So I left that garden to find another beauty,
as a matter of loving duty,
to thank the delicate heart who found mine
seeking friendship for all time.......
Copyright 2011
John Allen Richter
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