WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - The Poetry Fix: Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

Episode Date: November 7, 2025

Today, Erika Kyba reads "Sic Transit Gloria Mundi," by Emily Dickinson, a witty societal critique dashed with a commentary how certain astronomical discoveries have altered the way we understand and behave towards the universe around us.

Welcome to the Poetry Fix on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. I'm your host, Erica Kaiba, bringing you your weekly fix of poetry from across time. Today we're reading an excerpt from Emily Dickinson's Sikh Transit Gloria Mundi. This was the first poem of Dickensons that ever appeared in print, and this publication happened without her initial consent. It was purportedly a Valentine's poem, although the poem is rather empty of Valentine's themes. Siectransit Gloria Mundi means thus passes the glory of the world,

and it introduces a societal critique that Dickinson makes in the stanzas to follow. She sees her age as one in which, gentility is fine, rascality, heroic, insolvency, sublime, and one in which a man is a coward for staying to the end of the battle, but a hero for running away. The old values of courage and stalwart integrity have been emptied out in favor of superficial gentility. There is one other prevailing theme in the poem,

and that's certain astronomical discoveries that completely change the way we see the world around us. Could this have any connection to Dickinson's social critique, or are these two poetic themes entirely separate? Let's consider that as we dive in. Siktranzit Gloria Mundi by Emily Dickinson. Siktranzit Gloria Mundi How doth the busy be?

Dumbivimus vivamus, I stay mine enemy. O veni, vidi, vici, O caput, capa pie, And oh, memento mori, when I am far from thee. Hurrah for Peter Parley, Hurrah for Daniel Boone, Three cheers, sir, for the gentlemen who first observed the moon. Peter, put up the sunshine. Patty arranged the stars.

Tell Luna, tea is waiting, and call your brother Mars. Put down the apple atom, and come away with me. So shalt thou have a pippin from off my father's tree. I climb the hill of science, I view the landscape oar, such transcendental prospect I ne'er beheld before. Unto the legislature my country bids me go. I'll take my India rubbers in case the wind. should blow. During my education, it was announced to me that gravitation stumbling fell from an

apple tree. The earth upon an axis was once supposed to turn, by way of a gymnastic in honor of the sun. It was the brave Columbus, assailing o'er the tide, who notified the nations of where I would reside. Mortality is fatal. Gentility is fine. Rascality heroic. In solvency sublime. Our fathers being weary, laid down on bunker hill. And though full many a morning, yet they are sleeping still. The trumpet sir shall wake them. In dreams I see them rise.

Each with a solemn musket, a marching to the skies. You've been listening to the Poetry Fix with Erica Kaiba. If you enjoyed this episode, consider following the Poetry Fix on Spotify, YouTube. or Apple Podcasts. And if you have any poems you want to see in a future episode, email your suggestions to The Poetry Fix at gmail.com. Join me next week and we'll be continuing our journey through Sikh Transit Gloria Mundi.