A Bird Came Down Emily Dickinson
Plashless Feather Brooch
“Hope is the thing with feathers”
One long flight feather, fallen and found, kept in bronze.
The Story
Dickinson never names the bird in her most-loved poem — only that hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words. We cast a single flight feather, fallen and found on a Kraków path, in bronze, so its quill and every barb survive exactly as the bird left them.
The patina is pushed almost black, then waxed back on the high points the way a real feather catches low winter light. Heavier and warmer than the silver pieces — a small, stubborn note of hope for a coat lapel or a wool scarf, the bird that never stops at all.
The 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 sweetest — in the Gale — is heard —
And sore must be the storm —
That could abash the little Bird
That kept 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.
"Hope" is the thing with feathers — — Emily Dickinson 1830–1886
Technical Details
- Material
- Bronze, hand-patinated
- Finish
- Dark brown patina, waxed
- Dimensions
- 68 mm long × 26 mm wide
- Fitting
- Stainless steel rollover pin
- Cast from
- Corvid flight feather
Made to order in Kraków priced on request.
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