There’s a certain slant of light,
On winter afternoons,
That oppresses, like the weight
Of cathedral tunes.
Heavenly hurt it gives us;
We can find no scar,
But internal difference
Where the meanings are.
None may teach it anything,
‘Tis the seal, despair,-
An imperial affliction
Sent us of the air.
When it comes, the landscape listens,
Shadows hold their breath;
When it goes, ‘t is like the distance
On the look of death.
Emily Dickinson
I love Emily Dickinson’s work, but have always wondered over this verse. Like Edward Hopper, I love slanting light, and I love the quality of winter light the most. So, when I awoke this morning and saw this on my bedroom bookcase, the words of Emily’s poem immediately flashed across my consciousness, and pulling the poem from my book, re-read it. Still it reads with a sorrow that I never feel when gazing at winter light. I always wonder if I am misinterpreting her in this poem.
I could not wait to enter the studio with such clear, cleain light flooding my house.
I am spending today, trying to finish this final commission to be devlivered on Monday. That will make three commissions in three days signed, sealed and delivered. A load will roll off my back when that happens. I am overwhelmingly grateful for those two ice days that opened up a four-day weekend for me. Withouut that precious time, I’m not sure how I would have pulled off these commissions.
The gas station painting will be delivered to its new owner this afternoon.
The Jeep painting I delivered yesterday. I’m starting to feel like Santa Claus.
Back to work. Thanks for reading.
I paint in order to remember.
I journal when I feel alone.
I blog to remind myself that I am not alone.
Tags: Edward Hopper, Emily Dickinson
December 15, 2013 at 9:33 pm |
Slanting light and time to paint, what more could you want?
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December 28, 2013 at 11:08 am |
I couldn’t agree with you more. I am trying this again today (Dec. 28). Thank you for looking and responding.
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December 16, 2013 at 3:12 am |
Oh! I love emily dickinsons work as well! Lovely post. Lovely art. Thank you for sharing.
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December 28, 2013 at 11:10 am |
Thank you always, for responding. I love Dickinson’s work so much!
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December 28, 2013 at 7:39 pm
🙂
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December 29, 2013 at 10:22 am
Smiles back at ya!
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December 16, 2013 at 1:41 pm |
I love slanting light…especially if it has leaf shadow movement in it. That makes me happy!! 😉 (Yes…I love trees…even though they can be a challenge to portray in art!) I wonder if it was the “softness” of the winter light that made her feel sadness. Melancholy, you know. I don’t know…just a thought that popped in my mind.
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December 28, 2013 at 11:11 am |
Thank you, Bonnie, for responding to this. I’m never sure about what Emily meant by lines such as this. I just love the winter light, and returned recently from St. Louis (and 4-degree temperatures!) where the sun was so strong and the light so clear. It encouraged me to paint while I was up there. I’m glad I responded.
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