Emily Dickinson Elizabeth Ray

Bio She was born in Amherst, Massachusetts on December 10, 1830. She had a brother, William Austin Dickinson and a sister, Lavinia Norcross Dickinson. For seven years she attended Amherst Academy. She also attended Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, but she only stayed a year due to homesickness. Only a dozen of her poems were published while she was alive, most of those were greatly altered. She died on May 15, 1886 from Bright’s disease, which is a kidney infection . After her death, her sister Lavinia found nearly 1800 of Emily’s poems.

The Daisy Follows Soft the Sun And when his golden walk is done, Sits shyly at his feet. He, waking, finds the flower near. "Wherefore, marauder, art thou here?" "Because, sir, love is sweet!” We are the flower, Thou the sun! Forgive us, if as days decline, We nearer steal to Thee,-- Enamoured of the parting west, The peace, the flight, the amethyst, Night's possibility!

Analysis Rhyme Scheme: Meter: A, A, B, C, C, B, A, D, E, F, F, E The first verse is: iambic quadrameter, iambic quadrameter, iambic trimeter, iambic quadrameter, iambic quadrameter, iambic trimeter The second verse is exactly the same.

Examples of Figurative Language Alliteration Hyperbole Sits shyly Days decline Finds the flower We are the flower, thou the sun Personification When his golden walk is done Sits shyly at his feet He [the sun], waking, finds the flowers near

Theme As the flowers follow the sun, the people who love will follow the ones they love, even if the affection is not returned. Love is always near.

Literary criticism When Emily Dickinson’s poems were first published they were not looked upon favorably. Willis Buckingham noted: “Readers liked her “inspired” thoughts and emotions rather than her poetic techniques” Modern critics appreciate her accomplishments in language and poetic structure.

Resources http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/155 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Dickinso n http://www.enotes.com/emily-dickinson- criticism/dickinson-emily-elizabeth http://www.poetry- archive.com/d/the_daisy_follows_soft_the_s un.html