Part Four: Time and Eternity XVI THE CLOUDS their backs together laid, The north begun to push, The forests galloped till they fell, The lightning skipped like mice; The thunder crumbled like a stuff— How good to be safe in tombs, Where nature’s temper cannot reach, Nor vengeance ever comes! Emily Dickinson
A little Snow was Here and There A little Snow was here and there Disseminated in her Hair — Since she and I had met and played Decade had gathered to Decade — But Time had added not obtained Impregnable the Rose For summer too indelible Too obdurate for Snows — Emily Dickinson
There’s a Certain Slant of Light There’s a certain Slant of light, Winter Afternoons – That oppresses, like the Heft Of Cathedral Tunes – Heavenly Hurt, it gives us – We can find no scar, But internal difference – Where the Meanings, are – None may teach it – Any – ‘Tis the seal Despair […]
A Book 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! Emily Dickinson
The Single Hound I Adventure most unto itself The Soul condemned to be; Attended by a Single Hound— Its own Identity Emily Dickinson
Peril as a Possession (Part Five: The Single Hound VI) Peril as a possession ’T is good to bear, Danger disintegrates satiety; There ’s Basis there Begets an awe, That searches Human Nature’s creases As clean as Fire Emily Dickinson
The Blunder is to Estimate (Part Five: The Single Hound XVI) The blunder is to estimate “Eternity is Then,” We say, as of a station. Meanwhile he is so near, He joins me in my ramble, Divides abode with me, No friend have I that so persists As this Eternity. Emily Dickinson
Exhilaration is the Breeze (Part Five: The Single Hound XI) Exhilaration is the Breeze That lifts us from the ground, And leaves us in another place Whose statement is not found; Returns us not, but after time 5 We soberly descend, A little newer for the term Upon enchanted ground Emily Dickinson
The Right to Perish Might be Thought (Part Five: The Single Hound V) The right to perish might be thought An undisputed right, Attempt it, and the Universe upon the opposite Will concentrate its officers— You cannot even die, But Nature and Mankind must pause To pay you scrutiny. Emily Dickinson
Fame is a Fickle Food (Part 5: The Single Hound IV) Fame is a fickle food Upon a shifting plate, Whose table once a Guest, but not The second time, is set. Whose crumbs the crows inspect, 5 And with ironic caw Flap past it to the Farmer’s corn; Men eat of it and die. […]
Going to Heaven! I don’t know when- Pray do not ask me how! Indeed I’m too astonished To think of answering you! Going to Heaven! How dim it sounds! And yet it will be done As sure as flocks go home at night Unto the Shepherd’s arm! Perhaps you’re going too! Who knows? If you […]
On This Long Storm the Rainbow Rose (Time and Eternity V) On this long storm the rainbow rose, On this late morn the sun; The clouds, like listless elephants, Horizons straggled down. The birds rose smiling in their nests, The gales indeed were done; Alas! How heedless were the eyes On whom the summer shone! […]
Time and Eternity III Departed to the judgment A mighty afternoon; Great clouds like ushers leaning, Creation looking on. The flesh surrendered, cancelled, The bodiless begun; Two worlds, like audiences, disperse And leave the soul alone. Emily Dickinson
A Coffin—is a Small Domain A Coffin—is a small Domain, Yet able to contain A Citizen of Paradise In it diminished Plane. A Grave—is a restricted Breadth— Yet ampler than the Sun— And all the Seas He populates And Lands He looks upon To Him who on its small Repose Bestows a single Friend— Circumference […]
Life IX The heart asks pleasure first, And then, excuse from pain; And then, those little anodynes That deaden suffering And then, to go to sleep; And then, if it should be The will of its Inquisitor, The liberty to die. Emily Dickinson
“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers– “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 […]
“Heaven” has Different Signs—to Me “Heaven” has different Signs—to me— Sometimes, I think that Noon Is but a symbol of the Place— And when again, at Dawn, A mighty look runs round the World And settles in the Hills— An Awe if it should be like that Upon the Ignorance steals— The Orchard, when the […]
If I Should Die If I should die, And you should live, And time should gurgle on, And morn should beam, And noon should burn, As it has usual done; If birds should build as early, And bees as bustling go,– One might depart at option From enterprise below! ‘Tis sweet to know that stocks […]
Part One: Life VI IF I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain. Emily Dickinson
A Clock Stopped A Clock stopped — Not the Mantel’s — Geneva’s farthest skill Can’t put the puppet bowing — That just now dangled still — An awe came on the Trinket! The Figures hunched, with pain — Then quivered out of Decimals — Into Degreeless Noon — It will not stir for Doctors — […]
I’m Nobody! Who are you? I’m Nobody! Who are you? Are you – Nobody – too? Then there’s a pair of us! Don’t tell! they’d advertise – you know! How dreary – to be – Somebody! How public – like a Frog – To tell one’s name – the livelong June – To an admiring […]
An Awful Tempest Mashed the Air An awful tempest mashed the air, The clouds were gaunt and few; A black, as of a spectre’s cloak, Hid heaven and earth from view. The creatures chuckled on the roofs And whistled in the air, And shook their fists and gnashed their teeth, And swung their frenzied hair. […]
