I loved reading Emily Dickinson’s poem 466, which seems to be a complex and rich exploration of the power of imagination and creativity. The poem celebrates the freedom and boundlessness of the imaginative mind, contrasting it with the limitations of more conventional ways of thinking. Emily starts by declaring that she “dwells in Possibility,” suggesting that her mind is open to endless potential and creativity, and to me the word”dwells” implies a sense of permanence and deep engagement with this state of mind- for her, possibility is not just a fleeting thought but more like a way of life. The way that she describes imagination as a place where “forbidden feet” have never trod (untouched by the constraints of society or tradition) and contrasts it with the mundane “Chambers” and “Halls” associated with prose and conventional thinking reminded me instantly of some themes from Whitman, and even Emerson. The theme of expansiveness and freedom in imagination could be compared to Emerson’s ideas of the individual’s potential for growth and connection with the universe. I also immediately thought of “Leaves of Grass”, which is often cited as the work that expanded the limits of poetry, and more specifically “Song of Myself” which is notable for its innovative use of free verse, unconventional themes, and celebration of the individual and the universe. On the other hand, in 466, Dickinson is exploring the idea of the imagination as a dwelling place, a realm of infinite possibility. Whitman more often seems to celebrate the external world and the connections between individuals, while Dickinson’s focus is more internal, exploring the depths of the human psyche and mysteries of existence and truth.