The Props assist the House
Until the House is built
And then the Props withdraw
And adequate, erect,
The House support itself
And cease to recollect
The Augur and the Carpenter –
Just such a retrospect
Hath the perfected Life –
A Past of Plank and Nail
And slowness – then the scaffolds drop
Affirming it a Soul –
~ Emily Dickinson
(The Poems of Emily Dickinson, #729)
“Affirming the soul” were powerful words for me this morning. Thank you!
You’re quite welcome, Laurie!
Love that painting. Reminds me of Peggy’s Cove here in Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia and New England seem to have very similar-looking coastlines, at least as far as I can tell from pictures…
I don’t know where Gloucester is, but it must be by the sea, I can just about hear the waves roar as I look at this painting. It’s beautiful.
Gloucester is a city on Cape Ann on the shore of Massachusetts, north of here. It’s famous for its fishing industry. A lot of New England’s rocky coastline looks very much like this, even today. The painting feels like home to me.
Reminds me of the value of sweet simplicity. Both the poem and the painting. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Kathy! I LOVE this Emily poem – looking forward to the day my scaffolding drops…
Hi Barbara. I love those solid rocks. Poem and painting fit one another !!! Jane
Thank you, Jane!!!