We Grow Accustomed to the Dark

(3) Base Camp

There might not be any tricky words or allusions to look up, but Ms. Dickinson’s poetry isn’t always as simple as it looks. Her subtle form, random-seeming capitalization, and figurative language make what initially sounds like a spooky nursery rhyme transform into something chock full of meaning. But fear not: as long as you grab hold of those extended metaphors, you’ll see the light.