Emily Dickinson and transsexualism

[Mountain Girl]

Thanks, Ann M, for your admiring comment in another thread about my avatar, a public domain portrait of the American poet Emily Dickinson. Besides the fact that she was a woman, I've alway identified with her life of self-imposed seclusion and isolation while she pined away in unrequited love for someone, probably another woman. That pretty well describes the hidden, more authentic life of a TS or TG who is compelled by circumstances not to fully express her/his gender identity, except for the fact that the pining away is for the loss of one's own genuine self. Anywhooo, ... wouldn't it be more appropriate if she had touched on some of the issues discussed in this forum? Here's a couple I found:


Emily Dickinson (1830–86). Complete Poems. 1924.
Part One: Life
XLII

SURGEONS must be very careful
When they take the knife!
Underneath their fine incisions
Stirs the culprit,—Life!

I felt my life with both my hands
by Emily Dickinson
351

I felt my life with both my hands
To see if it was there—
I held my spirit to the Glass,
To prove it possibler—

I turned my Being round and round
And paused at every pound
To ask the Owner’s name—
For doubt, that I should know the Sound—

I judged my features—jarred my hair—
I pushed my dimples by, and waited—
If they—twinkled back—
Conviction might, of me—

I told myself, “Take Courage, Friend—
That—was a former time—
But we might learn to like the Heaven,
As well as our Old Home!”

And the same poem set to music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dvGilbYkw4

Enjoy,
Mountain Girl

[Julia_in_Pa]

Yes! I can certainly see how this relates to us here.

Thank you for posting this. :O)


Julia

[Jorja]

Thank you Mountain Girl, that made me look at Emily Dickinson in a light I never had. Yes, it does relate to us quite well.