The Soul selects her own Society (303) by Emily Dickinson The Soul selects her own Society —Then — shuts the Door —To her divine Majority —Present no more — Unmoved — she notes the Chariots — pausing —At her low Gate —Unmoved — an Emperor be kneelingUpon her Mat — I’ve known her — from an ample nation —Choose One —Then — close the Valves of her attention —Like Stone — c. 1862

“The Brain—is wider than the Sky”By: Emily Dickinson The Brain—is wider than the Sky—For—put them side by side—The one the other will containWith ease—and You—beside— The Brain is deeper than the sea—For—hold them—Blue to Blue—The one the other will absorb—As Sponges—Buckets—do— The Brain is just the weight of God—For—Heft them—Pound for Pound—And they will differ—if they do—As Syllable from Sound—

This World is not Conclusion (373)BY EMILY DICKINSON This World is not Conclusion.A Species stands beyond –Invisible, as Music –But positive, as Sound –It beckons, and it baffles –Philosophy, dont know –And through a Riddle, at the last –Sagacity, must go –To guess it, puzzles scholars –To gain it, Men have borneContempt of GenerationsAnd Crucifixion, shown –Faith slips – and laughs, and rallies –Blushes, if any see –Plucks at a twig of Evidence –And asks a Vane, the way –Much Gesture, from the Pulpit –Strong Hallelujahs roll –Narcotics cannot still the ToothThat nibbles at the soul –

Please create a blog post introducing yourself. You can include things about your work, home, hobbies, what you want to do in the future, what you do for vacation, etc.–really anything you want us to know about you. Feel free to add pictures. Follow these instructions for how to post, and/or watch this short tutorial video.

Hi all, My name is Paul Fess, and I’m an associate professor in the English department at LaGuardia. I’ve been at the college since 2018 and I’ve been teaching at CUNY since I began my masters degree at Hunter in 2005. I also got a PhD in American literature from the Graduate Center, so I’m CUNY through and through. At home, my 6-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter keep me busy, but in my spare time I play music. Here I am with my kids in New Orleans, where we went to see family over the break. Notice my daughter’s resistance to taking pictures!