The Two Faces of Possibility

Here are two different poetical views of the possibilities of writing poetry—one positive and hopeful, the other doubtful and filled with struggle. Dickinson, the genius, is positive. I, something less than genius, am the struggler.


        I dwell in Possibility—
        A fairer House than Prose—
        More numerous of Windows—
        Superior—for doors—

        Of Chambers as the Cedars—
        Impregnable of Eye—
        And for an Everlasting Roof—
        The Gambrels of the Sky—

        Of Visitors—the Fairest—
        For occupation—This—
        The spreading wide my narrow Hands—
        To gather Paradise—

        —Emily Dickinson


Awaiting Dawn

I dwell in Possibility. ~ Emily Dickinson

I find this shifting space
A questionable habitation.  Hope
Remains a nocturne scarcely audible;
I scratch the notes into my book of songs
With feathers sharpened by a bitter blade.
What prayers are wrought inside this cage of night
Become a liquor brewed from sorrow's rain,
Libation for the hosts that crowd my bed,
That carol with the confidence of those
Who've passed the night of possibility
And woke to tell the tale.  Theirs is the song
My pen stays poised above the page to write.
However many feathers used and tossed,
I know the dawn will never come till this
Night's song is done.


Aside from the principal reference to Dickinson's poem above, you'll notice other Dickinsonian references: "hope" and "feathers" from her well-known "Hope" is the thing with feathers; "hosts" from this poem; and "a liquor brewed" obviously from this famous poem. If you know these works, you'll know why I referenced them.


"Awaiting Dawn" © Leticia Austria