I visited Emily Dickinson’s home this weekend, a tremendous treat for me since she’s one of my favorite poets. It was a delightful way to spend a little time indoors on a rainy New England afternoon. I loved seeing the little bits of history they had there, but I especially enjoyed a little moment upstairs in her bedroom, where I stood at the window and looked out at the field she must have gazed upon a million times. The docent explained she was playful and would call to the neighborhood children playing out there and lower a little basket of gingerbread to them.
What a quirky thing! I loved the thought of a playful Emily, laughing in that room.
I also liked hearing about it — that somehow enough of her life was recorded that these kinds of stories could be shared. I wondered what people might say about me when I’m gone. I hope they say I liked to laugh. And I was kind.
What about you? What would people say about your life?
I had no time to hate, because
The grave would hinder me,
And life was not so ample I
Could finish enmity.Nor had I time to love, but since
Some industry must be,
The little toil of love, I thought,
Was large enough for me.
another cup of coffee 
Thank you! I’ve always wanted to visit her home. I heard a story once of a guy who went to her home and says, swears, he saw her ghost… 🙂
He says he saw her coming out her side door of her house, and she seemed startled to see him, and quickly withdrew back into her house… Since then I’ve always wanted to see her house…(and hopefully not her ghost.
How wonderful to see Emily Dickinson’s home. This past summer I visited Robert Frost’s home. It is inspirational to see what the writer looked at every day. I ate some wild strawberries and raspberries that were growing there on a path to his woods.
That’s so cool. I’ve been rather slowly making my way through the New England writers!
Very nice, I think we were thinking along the same lines today 🙂
I hope people remember what they saw God do in my life – It has been an amazing journey, moments so rich, so incredibly full of love and grace.
I will say that you were the best friend and teacher a person could have and being around you made me a better person.
aw, shucks. 🙂
It’s the truth.
Wonderful post, and I love the poem at the end. Thanks for sharing!
Hunting for my gingerbread recipe and some kiddos to share it with… I might have to settle for making a bowl of chicken soup for the hubby who is taking a sick day.
Good heart fodder here. I’d like to think people might say I prayed, or I was a good friend, or a good mom. But they just as might easily say that I loved to play music loud, that I was road warrior, that I loved to uncork a bottle of wine with friends.
they might could say you were magnificent at all those things.
I absolutely love learning about Emily lowering a basket of gingerbread to the children. So humanizes her, doesn’t it?
exactly! it totally humanized her!
I loved the little poem. Poetry is my passion and I’m an incurable romantic and when my time comes I hope family and friends will remember me for the poems I write and maybe someone will recite a fitting poem at my last farewell.
A little giggle to make you smile on Monday and hopefully chase the blues away.
I make these poems up in my head
And should really write them down instead
But when I find the paper I need
Alas my pencil has run out of lead ;-))
Story of my life! Thank you so much for sharing this.
hii nice post 🙂 I would love people to remember me as a woman who lived her life ! ..who lived and loved loud 😉 here is the link to my response to a recent daily post prompt…I feel it quite answers how I like my life to be…
http://sweetykannoth.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/life-is-short-be-mad-be-crazy/
Hope you like it…
have a great week !
This is awesome! I love that you live and love LOUD. Yes!
Thanks 😀 we live but once…!!