Writings by Susan Dickinson: Correspondence with William Hayes Ward

Amherst Mass .
Feb. 18" 91

Mr Ward
Dear Sir

Thank you for
spending so much time
over my letter. I recognize
fully all Miss Emily's
lack of rhyme and
rhythm, but have learned
to accept it for the bold
thought and everything else
so unusual about her.

I think if you do not feel

that your own literary taste is compromised
by it I would rather the three verses of
the "Martyrs" should be published if any.
I shall not be annoyed if you decide not
to publish at all. I should have said printed.
I do not think she meant to speak of the
needle as at the pole - but it's apparent
struggle to its allegiance in any air - polar
air appealing to her imagination as making
a c/bolder[?] figure for her passionless poem. You

H bMS Am 1118.95, Box 9

know "the morning stars never did sing together"
or [as] "jocund day stand tip-toe on the misty
mountain top"! I enclose a poem in her own
hand which you can use or not as you please
and in a few days, shall send you several little poems
which you can use or not as you care but
kindly return - Emily never wrote long poems -
the longest are in her volume. The money part
is of little value any way. Anything you do will
be satisfactory. Mr Dickinson thinks Col.
Higginson and Niles are to bring out another vol.
of the poems, it is not best or fair to them to
print many. I do not feel in any way bound
to them, but will of course defer to his wish in the
matter.

Yours cordially
S. H. Dickinson


	Image reproduced by permission of the Houghton Library, Harvard University. Not to be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. Transcription and commentary copyright 1998 by Martha Nell Smith, Laura Elyn Lauth, and Lara Vetter, all rights reserved Maintained by Rebecca Mooney <rnmooney@umd.edu> Last updated on January 25, 2008