My Introduction to Emily Dickinson

True story:  I was in high school and I had just finished reading the Woody Allen book Without Feathers, so I decided to read the poem that inspired the title.  That was my introduction to Emily Dickinson, and here is that first poem.

"Hope" is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetness - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird 

That keeps so many warm -

I've heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity, 

It asked a crumb - of me.