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AA Emily Dickinson An excerpt from The Belle of Amherst Forgive me if I’m frightened. I never see strangers and hardly know what I say. My sister, Lavinia—she’s younger than I—she says I tend to wander back and forth in time. So you must bear with me. I was born December tenth, eighteen thirty, which makes me…fifty three? Welcome to Amherst. My name is Emily Elizabeth Dickinson. Elizabeth is for my Aunt Elisabeth Currier. She’s Father’s sister. Oh, how the trees stand up straight when they hear Aunt Libbie’s little boots come thumping into Amberst! She’s the only male relative on the female side. Dear aunt Libbie. But I don’t use my middle name anymore—since I became a poet. Professor Higginson, the literary critic, doesn’t think my poems are…no matter. I’ve had seven poems published—anonymously, to be sure. So you see why I prefer to introduce myself to you as a poet. Here in Amherst, I’m known as Squire Edward Dickinson’s half-cracked daughter. Well…I am! The neighbors can’t figure me out. I don’t cross my father’s ground to any house or town. I haven’t left the house for years. What should we do in our literary land- scape? The Soul selects her own Society—Then—shuts the Door Why should I socialize with village gossips? There goes one of them now—Henrietta Sweetser—Everyone knows Henny.  She’d even intimidate the anti-Christ. Look at her! She’s strolling by the house, trying to catch a glimpse of me. Would you like that? So I give them something to talk about. I dress in white all year round, even in winter. “Bridal White,” Henny calls it. “Dear, dear! Dresses in bridal white, she does, every day of the blessed year. Year in, year out.  Disappointed in love as a girl, so I hear.  Poor creature. All so very sad. And her sister, Lavinia, a spinster too. Didn’t you know? Oh, yes. Stayed unmarried just to be at home and take care of Miss Emily. Two old maids in that big house. What a lonely life, to shut yourself aw