"The Sky Is Low The Clouds Are Mean" by Emily Dickinson

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"The Sky Is Low The Clouds Are Mean" by Emily Dickinson

FromVerses In Vox

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Length:

1 minute

Released:

Feb 16, 2016

Format:

Podcast episode

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The personification of nature that Dickinson employs in this poem is simply beautiful. As always, she uses a few words to articulate so much and does it so well. It's so easy to visualize in one's mind's eye the scene that she is describing. And then with the last few words, Dickinson brings home the true point of the piece with the comparison of nature to humanity.

Released:

Feb 16, 2016

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (32)

Verses In Vox™ is a short-form audio program featuring dramatic readings of classic poetry. It's a vehicle to experience these well-loved works in a new way while at the same time introducing them to a new audience.

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"Chartless" by Emily Dickinson: This piece is one of Dickinson's most recognizable works and it is one of the few which has been titled by an editor as Emily Dickinson did not title her poems. "Chartless" was first published in 1890 after her death in 1886 by a few of her personal... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
"In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae: Written in May of 1915 by Canadian physician, Lt. Col. John McCrae, "In Flanders Fields" is one of the most recognizable poems about the First World War. It was first published in a London magazine about 7 months after being written. The poem is still... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
"Christmas Bells" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Written on Christmas Day in 1863 during the heat of the Civil War by American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Christmas Bells" is perhaps more well-known in the form of the Christmas carol "I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day". Organist John... by Verses In Vox
3 min listen
"Fall, Leaves, Fall" by Emily Bronte: Contrasting the sadness and beauty of the changing of seasons, Emily Brontë also leaves the reader with a sense of anticipation of the cooler weather in this short work. The vivid imagery she uses seems to leap from the page and make the piece come... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
"A Slash of Blue" by Emily Dickinson: Emily Dickinson was a master of saying much with a few words. In these few lines she paints a beautiful word picture of the amazing canvas of the skies. Some scholars contend that this poem is a reference to the American Civil War, and while that may... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
"If--" by Rudyard Kipling: Rudyard Kipling wrote the poem “If—“ in 1895, but it was not published until 15 years later. The piece is consistently listed among the best poems ever written by British poets and sections of it have been quoted or referenced in popular culture... by Verses In Vox
3 min listen
Verses In Vox Promo: Imagine classic works of poetry from the likes of Dickinson, Kipling and Tennyson fused with original music scores and enhanced with sound effects. Verses In Vox™ is a short-form, dramatic poetry program produced collaboratively by an international... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost: After working for many hours on a poem in 1922, Robert Frost stepped outside and was suddenly inspired to write "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening". He said later that he was able to complete the piece in just a few minutes. Published in 1923, it... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
"Ballad Of The Tempest" by James Thomas Fields: This beautiful, narrative poem was first published in 1849 in a volume titled "Poems", just a few years after James Thomas Fields became a partner in a Boston publishing firm. Several of Fields' works reference the sea which may have been due to the... by Verses In Vox
2 min listen
"Evening Solace" by Charlotte Brontë: English writer, Charlotte Brontë, is probably best known for her novel, Jane Eyre, although she wrote a handful of other novels as well as many poems. For many years she wrote and published her works under the pseudonym, Currer Bell. The poem, Evening... by Verses In Vox
2 min listen
"The Sky Is Low The Clouds Are Mean" by Emily Dickinson: The personification of nature that Dickinson employs in this poem is simply beautiful. As always, she uses a few words to articulate so much and does it so well. It's so easy to visualize in one's mind's eye the scene that she is describing. And then... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
"To Be A Pilgrim" by John Bunyan: This poem was originally published in 1684 in Part 2 of the well-known allegorical novel that Bunyan wrote, The Pilgrim's Progress. The text was later modified and set to music in the early 1900s and sung as a hymn in churches. There are a few textual... by Verses In Vox
2 min listen
"London Snow" by Robert Bridges: Before beginning to work full time on his literary interests, Robert Bridges worked for 8 years as a physician in several London hospitals. "London Snow" was written several years after he left the medical field and is a beautiful poem full of imagery... by Verses In Vox
3 min listen
"My Shadow" by Robert Louis Stevenson: Perhaps better known for his fiction works such as Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson was also a prolific poet, publishing a handful of collections of poems. "My Shadow" was first published in 1885 in a... by Verses In Vox
2 min listen
"The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Written and published in the winter of 1854, "The Charge of the Light Brigade" memorializes the story of the British soldiers who fought in the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War. The battle, in which the Russian forces had soundly defeated... by Verses In Vox
3 min listen
"The Children's Hour" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, wrote "The Children's Hour" about his relationship with his own three daughters, even using their names in the piece. It was first published in 1860 in the Boston-based magazine, The Atlantic Monthly.... by Verses In Vox
3 min listen
"The Best Thing in the World" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning: English poet, Elizabeth Barrett Browning was born in 1806 and is believed to have written her first poem at the young age of 6. Unlike many classic poets, Barrett Browning was quite well respected and her works were well received during her lifetime.... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
"Florence Nightingale" by Emma Lazarus: Emma Lazarus was an American poet who was writing during the late 1800s. She is most known for her sonnet in honor of The Statue of Liberty, "The New Colossus". Her poem, "Florence Nightingale", was written on March 7, 1867 and was first published in... by Verses In Vox
2 min listen
“Afternoon” by Emma Lazarus: While she wrote dozens of poems, Emma Lazarus is most known for "The New Colossus" and information about much of her other work is scarce. Indeed, information regarding "Afternoon" is almost nonexistent online. This beautiful, narrative piece is... by Verses In Vox
3 min listen
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1 min listen
"The Village Blacksmith" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: First published in 1840, "The Village Blacksmith" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a wonderful example of a short, narrative poem. It not only tells the reader a story, but it is one which many can relate to since it is really a story of the... by Verses In Vox
3 min listen
"The Long Hill" by Sara Teasdale: American lyric poet, Sara Teasdale, was born in 1884 in Missouri. She published her first poem in a newspaper in 1907 followed by a volume of her poetry later that year. In 1950, science fiction writer, Ray Bradbury published a short story which... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
“A Psalm of Life" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: This popular poem by American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was first published in the literary magazine, The Knickerbocker, in 1838. The following year, this poem was collected with several other early Longfellow works and published in a volume... by Verses In Vox
2 min listen
"Crossing The Bar" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Written in 1889, when Tennyson was about 80 years old, "Crossing The Bar" is one of his last pieces of poetry. The elegy embraces similar themes as many of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's other works as he once again uses references to the sea; this time to... by Verses In Vox
2 min listen
“Eldorado” by Edgar Allan Poe: The poem "Eldorado" was first published in 1849 in the Boston-based periodical, The Flag of Our Union, a publication which also printed works from Louisa May Alcott. Incidentally, this poem was published just a little over five months before Edgar... by Verses In Vox
2 min listen
"In School-days" by John Greenleaf Whittier: Born in rural Massachusetts in 1807, John Greenleaf Whittier began to write poetry at a young age with his first poem being published in the summer of 1826. Shortly thereafter, he began working as an editor of various periodicals. The poem "In... by Verses In Vox
3 min listen
"Autumn Fires" by Robert Louis Stevenson: "Autumn Fires" was first published in 1885 in a volume titled Penny Whistles which contained over 60 poems, including "My Shadow", "The Lamplighter", and "The Land of Story-books". The collection was later re-titled A Child’s Garden of Verses and has... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
"The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus: American born, Jewish poet, Emma Lazarus wrote this now famous sonnet in 1883 for the purpose of aiding the Bartholdi Pedestal Fund for the Statue of Liberty as Lazarus notes on the original manuscript of the poem (pictured below). Unfortunately, she... by Verses In Vox
2 min listen
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"The Crucifixion and Resurrection. An Ode." by Mary Leapor: Mary Leapor was a young poet born into Britain's working class. She died at the young age of 24 and therefore her body of work is not very large, but it contains some lengthy pieces which are quite respected and have received much acclaim to this day.... by Verses In Vox
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“Eldorado” by Edgar Allan Poe: The poem "Eldorado" was first published in 1849 in the Boston-based periodical, The Flag of Our Union, a publication which also printed works from Louisa May Alcott. Incidentally, this poem was published just a little over five months before Edgar... by Verses In Vox
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"Autumn Fires" by Robert Louis Stevenson: "Autumn Fires" was first published in 1885 in a volume titled Penny Whistles which contained over 60 poems, including "My Shadow", "The Lamplighter", and "The Land of Story-books". The collection was later re-titled A Child’s Garden of Verses and has... by Verses In Vox
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“Afternoon” by Emma Lazarus: While she wrote dozens of poems, Emma Lazarus is most known for "The New Colossus" and information about much of her other work is scarce. Indeed, information regarding "Afternoon" is almost nonexistent online. This beautiful, narrative piece is... by Verses In Vox
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"The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus: American born, Jewish poet, Emma Lazarus wrote this now famous sonnet in 1883 for the purpose of aiding the Bartholdi Pedestal Fund for the Statue of Liberty as Lazarus notes on the original manuscript of the poem (pictured below). Unfortunately, she... by Verses In Vox
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“A Psalm of Life" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: This popular poem by American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was first published in the literary magazine, The Knickerbocker, in 1838. The following year, this poem was collected with several other early Longfellow works and published in a volume... by Verses In Vox
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"The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Written and published in the winter of 1854, "The Charge of the Light Brigade" memorializes the story of the British soldiers who fought in the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War. The battle, in which the Russian forces had soundly defeated... by Verses In Vox
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"The Long Hill" by Sara Teasdale: American lyric poet, Sara Teasdale, was born in 1884 in Missouri. She published her first poem in a newspaper in 1907 followed by a volume of her poetry later that year. In 1950, science fiction writer, Ray Bradbury published a short story which... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
"Crossing The Bar" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Written in 1889, when Tennyson was about 80 years old, "Crossing The Bar" is one of his last pieces of poetry. The elegy embraces similar themes as many of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's other works as he once again uses references to the sea; this time to... by Verses In Vox
2 min listen
"The Village Blacksmith" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: First published in 1840, "The Village Blacksmith" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a wonderful example of a short, narrative poem. It not only tells the reader a story, but it is one which many can relate to since it is really a story of the... by Verses In Vox
3 min listen
"Florence Nightingale" by Emma Lazarus: Emma Lazarus was an American poet who was writing during the late 1800s. She is most known for her sonnet in honor of The Statue of Liberty, "The New Colossus". Her poem, "Florence Nightingale", was written on March 7, 1867 and was first published in... by Verses In Vox
2 min listen
"The Best Thing in the World" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning: English poet, Elizabeth Barrett Browning was born in 1806 and is believed to have written her first poem at the young age of 6. Unlike many classic poets, Barrett Browning was quite well respected and her works were well received during her lifetime.... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
"The Eagle" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson: "The Eagle" was first published in 1851, shortly after Tennyson was appointed as Poet Laureate of Britain in 1850; a position he held until his death in 1892. In spite of its short length, "The Eagle" still contains a lot of meaning. It is packed with... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
"My Shadow" by Robert Louis Stevenson: Perhaps better known for his fiction works such as Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson was also a prolific poet, publishing a handful of collections of poems. "My Shadow" was first published in 1885 in a... by Verses In Vox
2 min listen
"The Children's Hour" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, wrote "The Children's Hour" about his relationship with his own three daughters, even using their names in the piece. It was first published in 1860 in the Boston-based magazine, The Atlantic Monthly.... by Verses In Vox
3 min listen
"Evening Solace" by Charlotte Brontë: English writer, Charlotte Brontë, is probably best known for her novel, Jane Eyre, although she wrote a handful of other novels as well as many poems. For many years she wrote and published her works under the pseudonym, Currer Bell. The poem, Evening... by Verses In Vox
2 min listen
"To Be A Pilgrim" by John Bunyan: This poem was originally published in 1684 in Part 2 of the well-known allegorical novel that Bunyan wrote, The Pilgrim's Progress. The text was later modified and set to music in the early 1900s and sung as a hymn in churches. There are a few textual... by Verses In Vox
2 min listen
"Ballad Of The Tempest" by James Thomas Fields: This beautiful, narrative poem was first published in 1849 in a volume titled "Poems", just a few years after James Thomas Fields became a partner in a Boston publishing firm. Several of Fields' works reference the sea which may have been due to the... by Verses In Vox
2 min listen
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3 min listen
"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost: After working for many hours on a poem in 1922, Robert Frost stepped outside and was suddenly inspired to write "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening". He said later that he was able to complete the piece in just a few minutes. Published in 1923, it... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
"Christmas Bells" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Written on Christmas Day in 1863 during the heat of the Civil War by American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Christmas Bells" is perhaps more well-known in the form of the Christmas carol "I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day". Organist John... by Verses In Vox
3 min listen
"A Slash of Blue" by Emily Dickinson: Emily Dickinson was a master of saying much with a few words. In these few lines she paints a beautiful word picture of the amazing canvas of the skies. Some scholars contend that this poem is a reference to the American Civil War, and while that may... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
"Fall, Leaves, Fall" by Emily Bronte: Contrasting the sadness and beauty of the changing of seasons, Emily Brontë also leaves the reader with a sense of anticipation of the cooler weather in this short work. The vivid imagery she uses seems to leap from the page and make the piece come... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen
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3 min listen
"Chartless" by Emily Dickinson: This piece is one of Dickinson's most recognizable works and it is one of the few which has been titled by an editor as Emily Dickinson did not title her poems. "Chartless" was first published in 1890 after her death in 1886 by a few of her personal... by Verses In Vox
1 min listen

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"The Sky Is Low The Clouds Are Mean" by Emily Dickinson

"The Sky Is Low The Clouds Are Mean" by Emily Dickinson

Description

Titles in the series (32)

More Episodes from Verses In Vox