 | Poems by Emily Dickinson |  |
130
[XX. The last night that she lived]
The last night that she lived,
It was a common night,
Except the dying; this to us
Made nature different.
It was a common night,
Except the dying; this to us
Made nature different.
We noticed smallest things,—
Things overlooked before,
By this great light upon our minds
Italicized, as 't were.
Things overlooked before,
By this great light upon our minds
Italicized, as 't were.
That others could exist
While she must finish quite,
A jealousy for her arose
So nearly infinite.
While she must finish quite,
A jealousy for her arose
So nearly infinite.
We waited while she passed;
It was a narrow time,
Too jostled were our souls to speak,
At length the notice came.
It was a narrow time,
Too jostled were our souls to speak,
At length the notice came.
131
She mentioned, and forgot;
Then lightly as a reed
Bent to the water, shivered scarce,
Consented, and was dead.
Then lightly as a reed
Bent to the water, shivered scarce,
Consented, and was dead.
And we, we placed the hair,
And drew the head erect;
And then an awful leisure was,
Our faith to regulate.
And drew the head erect;
And then an awful leisure was,
Our faith to regulate.
| Poems by Emily Dickinson | |