The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson

Transcriptionist, essayist, mom, wife. Author of The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson by Amy Robinson (in progress). photos of writing on Ig: @amy_transcribes

[The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson @amy_transcribes]

Emily Dickinson sext:
Enamored of the parting West—/ The peace—the flight—the Amethyst—/ Night’s possibility!”

[The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson @amy_transcribes]

Two weeks into this practice, I have now written 100 Emily Dickinson poems. I have kept up posting all the pictures on Instagram but not here. I think I’ll keep up this account, but maybe not with photos.

[The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson @amy_transcribes]

I wrote a little less mindlessly today, or less mechanically. I mean, I gave more attention to the poems. I read the poems aloud before I wrote each one. It is surprisingly easy to write mindlessly! Which I don’t totally resist, but must resist some.

[The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson @amy_transcribes]

“She did not sing as we did—/ It was a different tune—”

[The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson @amy_transcribes]

“I have a missing friend—/“Pleiad” its name, and Robin,/ and guinea in the sand.”

23 might be my favorite so far.

[The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson @amy_transcribes]

I kept going til this one because I saw it was about sleep and I’ve had horrible insomnia the last few nights. But I really have no idea what it’s about, too tired, no wisdom here. If you have any insight please share.

[The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson @amy_transcribes]

This stanza about the departed robin coming back to teach her a new melody — such a great contrast of learning to “During my education, / It was announced to me,” which sums up everything that’s wrong with conventional schooling.

[The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson @amy_transcribes]

End of 3rd poem.

I don’t feel much kinship with Emily Dickinson. To me she seems like a mystic and an alien, and her poetry visionary. So it’s cool to write her complete poems, feels like radical poetry interplanetary time travel VR.

[The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson @amy_transcribes]

Third poem, cont.

“During my education,
It was announced to me”

this is hilarious to me, as a way to describe one’s schooling

[The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson @amy_transcribes]

Third poem continues.

“Put down the apple, Adam,
And come away with me.”

(My husband @pubgen is named Adam so naturally I love this line)

[The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson @amy_transcribes]

End of first poem, second poem, start of third poem. Second poem looks a little more like an Emily Dickinson poem.

“Never mind silent fields—”

Sometimes, or often, I will put lines that strike me especially.

[The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson @amy_transcribes]

First poem continues.

[The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson @amy_transcribes]

This is the start of the first poem. It doesn’t have an Emily Dickinson look to it, but as I wrote it, I found her voice.

[The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson @amy_transcribes]

It’s dedicated to my family.

[The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson @amy_transcribes]

This morning I started writing The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. I hope to finish writing it in a year.