Dear Mary -
When the Best is gone - I know that other things are not of consequence - The Heart wants what it wants - or else it does not care -
You wonder why I write - so - Because I cannot help - I like to have you know some care - so when your life gets faint for it’s other life - you can lean on us - We wont break, Mary. We look very small - but the Reed can carry weight.
Not to see what we love, is very terrible - and talking - does’nt ease it - and nothing does - but just itself.
The Eyes and Hair, we chose - are all there are - to us - Is’nt it so - Mary?
I often wonder how the love of Christ, is done - when that - below - holds - so -
I hope the little “Robert” coos away pain - Perhaps your flowers, help - some -
Vinnie and Sue, are making Hot beds - but then, the Robins plague them so - they dont accomplish much -
The Frogs sing sweet - today - They have such pretty - lazy - times - how nice, to be a Frog!
Sue - draws her little Boy - pleasant days - in a Cab - and Carlo - walks behind, accompanied by a Cat - from each establishment.
It looks funny to see so small a man, going out of Austin’s House - Mother sends her love to you - She has a sprained foot - and can go, but little, in the House, and not abroad - at all.
Dont dishearten - Mary - We’ll keep thinking of you - Kisses for all.
Emily.
About This Letter
Historical Context
Written in spring 1862 to Mary Bowles, wife of Samuel Bowles who was editor of the Springfield Republican newspaper. The Bowles family were close friends of the Dickinson family, and Mary appears to have been going through a difficult time when Emily wrote this compassionate letter.
Significance
This letter reveals Dickinson's capacity for deep friendship and her ability to offer comfort through her unique poetic voice. Her phrase 'The Heart wants what it wants - or else it does not care' demonstrates her psychological insight and has become one of her most quoted lines.
About Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) was an American poet who lived most of her life in seclusion in Amherst, Massachusetts. Though only a few of her poems were published during her lifetime, she is now recognized as one of the most important American poets.
About Mary Bowles
Mary Bowles was the wife of Samuel Bowles, editor of the Springfield Republican newspaper. The Bowles family were among the Dickinsons' closest friends, and Mary and Emily maintained a warm correspondence throughout their friendship.
Additional Resources
- Letters of Emily Dickinson - Archive.org Source archive containing this letter
- Emily Dickinson - Wikipedia Biography and literary significance
- Emily Dickinson - Wikisource Collection of Dickinson's letters and poetry
- Emily Dickinson Museum Official museum preserving Dickinson's legacy
- Samuel Bowles - Wikipedia Information about the Bowles family and their friendship with the Dickinsons