CONTENTS

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. FOREWORD vii
3. CONTENTS ix
4. ILLUSTRATIONS xi
5. Part One GROWTH STIRS ALONE
6. I. THE VALLEY: Difficult Ideals 3
7. II. THE FAMILY: Daily Faces 21
8. III. FRIENDS: Ecstatic Instants 45
9. Part Two THE DWELLER IN POSSIBILITY
10. IV. THE POET AND THE MUSE: Poetry as Art 69
11. V. MY SAFEST FRIEND: Renunciation 103
12. VI. THE BUSINESS OF CIRCUMFERENCE: Meaning in Poetry 134
13. VII. HELEN OF COLORADO: Achievement 155
14. Part Three FLOOD SUBJECTS
15. VIII. NATURE: The Haunted House 183
16. IX. DEATH: The White Exploit 203
17. X. THE COLOSSAL SUBSTANCE OF IMMORTALITY 232
18. IMPORTANT DATES IN THE LIFE Of EMILY DICKINSON 263
19. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE 266
20. INDEX OF POEMS 269
21. GENERAL INDEX 272