<< Return to Poems

The Shadow of Thy Wing

< transcription >

NOTES

"Original Poetry." Springfield Daily Republican, March 1, 1862

This poem appeared just beneath Dickinson's "Safe in their Alabaster Chambers." Thus when Susan writes, "It takes as long to start our Fleet as the Burnside," she may well be referring to the printing of her own poem as well as to Emily's. Susan alludes to the months it took for General Burnside to assemble troops for his eventually successful capture of Roanoke Island on February 8, 1862. On December 10,1861, the New York Times printed an advertisement seeking men for this effort, and Susan's remark likely reflects the widespread impatience with the Union war effort in general and uses that as an analog for impatience at gaining a wider audience for their poetry.