Dickinson's Desk: Reflections
(The desk and most of the furnishings from Dickinson's bedroom reside at Houghton Library, Harvard--part of the Dickinson family feud that sent some treasures there, and kept others in Amherst...)
http://woodberrypoetryroom.com/?p=4659
(The desk and most of the furnishings from Dickinson's bedroom reside at Houghton Library, Harvard--part of the Dickinson family feud that sent some treasures there, and kept others in Amherst...)
http://woodberrypoetryroom.com/?p=4659
Thank you for posting this! I thought Christina Davis's perspective was fascinating. How strange an archivist's work feels to us, especially now--loving something so much that you refrain from touching it, in order to preserve it for posterity and for everyone else who will come along to view it. I'm the kind of person who hugs freely, but I haven't touched another person (like, not even tapped someone on the shoulder) in over three weeks. To me, this zero-touch existence feels terrible. But archives work requires a different kind of love and respect for someone and their belongings.
ReplyDeleteAs for others' reflections on seeing ED's room and desk that Davis quotes in her piece, I particularly liked reading Fanny Howe's thoughts on ED's desk and chair: "A place to kneel and to fly on. She would have to hold it steady in case it flew skyward like Pegasus. She would hate to know people stared at it and circled around in awe. And, the poor desk. If it had willpower, it would be gone in search of one who could make it disappear with a few magic words. So, don’t even touch it with your fingertips or kiss the wood. Don’t sit in the chair and pretend to deserve the honor. One horse, one owner." I also thought Makoto Fujimura's words were powerful: “Emily Dickinson’s desk was 17 1/2′ x 17 1/2′. This is all the space you need to change and shape culture.” We feel so cramped and limited now, but Fujimura certainly offers a different way of understanding things.