Exigencies: A Poem

How happy is the little Stone 

That rambles in the Road alone, 

And doesn't care about Careers 

And Exigencies never fears— 

Whose Coat of elemental Brown 

A passing Universe put on, 

And independent as the Sun 

Associates or glows alone, 

Fulfilling absolute Decree 

In casual simplicity

— Emily Dickinson

I remember reading this untitled poem in high school. You probably remember it too, if you are old enough to have gone to high school before they modernized poetry classes. I don't know if Emily Dickinson is still in, or if she's out.

I believe the time I read this in high school was my first encounter with the word exigencies. A nice word, but it's a little obscure for every-day use. 

I have never memorized the poem, and when I looked it up, I realized that it was longer than I thought (though in fact it's pretty short). Like all poetry, this one makes me afraid that I'm missing the meanings or failing to grasp the depths. Despite my inadequacy, from time to time I like to think about the little rambling stone and the exigencies that don't frighten it. I'll skip the absolute Decree and the passing Universe, and just take the simplicity.

I hear this poem in my head when I walk on the beach and see the little stones, shells, and bits of seaweed tumbled by the water and scattered on the sand.

This blog post written for Wordy Wednesday at maefood dot blogspot dot com. 

© 2020 mae sander.