There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!
Within the travel metaphor of the frigate that takes us lands away, there is an interesting image of a page of (prancing ) poetry compared to coursers (birds of a certain species found in the desert regions of Asia and Africa) .In the days of exploration and the opening up of several new geographical regions one can imagine the fascination that a frigate has for a reclusive “old maid” poet.
All Dickinson’s poetry sounds like notes written in hurry without a second look. Hence the raw beauty of the lines.
(Re-visiting the poem which is already there in short poems with the title “The Book”)
The poet-photographer 