October 10, 2003

The Yellow Rose of Emily Dickenson

This morning Wife didn’t believe me when I told her one could sing any Emily Dickenson poem to the tune of “Yellow Rose of Texas.” Given the dark nature of Dickenson’s verse, I find this especially ironic and funny.

Here, try it yourself! First, click this link to hear “Yellow Rose of Texas,” then sing along to this typically chipper Dickenson ditty, Because I could not stop for Death:

Because I could not stop for Death—
He kindly stopped for me—
The Carriage held but just Ourselves—
and Immortality.

We slowly drove—He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility—

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess—in the Ring—
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain—
We passed the Setting Sun—

Or rather—He passed Us—
The Dews drew quivering and chill—
For only Gossamer, my Gown—
My Tippet—only Tulle—

We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground—
The Roof was scarcely visible—
The Cornice—in the Ground—

Since then—'Tis Centuries—and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses Heads
Were toward Eternity—

Posted by Avocare at October 10, 2003 08:48 AM | TrackBack
Comments

So, you have a lot of free time these days? Or have you just lost your mind?

Posted by: michele at October 10, 2003 09:16 AM

Yes, now do it with the Virginie-sausage song.
Gwen

Posted by: Gwen at October 10, 2003 10:53 AM

I think you've lost your mind...

Posted by: CB at October 10, 2003 02:44 PM

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!

Posted by: Alan at October 10, 2003 06:47 PM

Yep, lost his mind ...

Posted by: kt at October 11, 2003 03:19 PM
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