The pattern of the sun (by Emily Dickinson)


emily-dickinson.gif Emily Dickinson image by alessepif



The pattern of the sun

Can fit but him alone

For sheen must have a Disk

To be a sun —


- Emily Dickinson, c. 1882

 
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  • 8/22/2008 6:06 PM Jesus Crisis wrote:
    Nothing wrong with sheen...
    But it's nothing without substance.
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    1. 8/22/2008 6:10 PM meribeth wrote:
      can sheen exist without substance?
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      1. 8/22/2008 6:29 PM Jesus Crisis wrote:
        Physically, perhaps no

        Metaphorically, I think so
        ...at least without qualitative (or significant) substance

        Why do some of today's "stars" come to mind?

        Then we're back to how one defines "qualitative" or "significant." ;)

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        1. 8/22/2008 6:40 PM meribeth wrote:
          the way i read this poem, the sheen belongs to something of substance.

          is she referring to THE sun, or speaking in metaphors? i think it's a metaphor.

          heh. "stars", the sun, they can all be metaphors.

          we're back to the perception and perceiving thingy again.

          perhaps i'm a lunatic? :)
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          1. 8/22/2008 8:28 PM Jesus Crisis wrote:
            lunatic? nah... we're talking about the sun, not the moon.

            And it is most definitely a metaphor.  Then again, all things are, whether we intend them to be or not.

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            1. 8/22/2008 8:35 PM meribeth wrote:
              since we had the sun and stars in there, i thought i might as well introduce a moon too :)

              i promise not to swear by it though, it's too inconstant.

              are you getting all tao again? *grins*
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              1. 8/22/2008 9:57 PM Jesus Crisis wrote:
                The moonlight and the sunlight are actually the same.  One's just reflected.
                All in all is all they are.

                Tao?

                Wow and Ow, too... story of my life!

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                1. 8/22/2008 10:03 PM meribeth wrote:
                  cobain was a science teacher eh?

                  i be
                  you be
                  we all be
                  so let's see.
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                  1. 8/22/2008 10:34 PM Jesus Crisis wrote:
                    Mais oui!
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  • 8/23/2008 2:51 AM chris wrote:
    She might have been referring to the Old English meaning of the word which meant beautiful.. as well as luster or shine... in which case you can have beauty without substance...if your referring to an emotion or something... which she of course is not .

    But this is like a Zen koan... I didn't know she wrote things like this... yikes...

    Have fun .. carry on.. just interjecting my two cents worth into the fray...
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