 | Poems by Emily Dickinson |  |
91
[III. Your riches taught me poverty]
Your riches taught me poverty.
Myself a millionnaire
In little wealths,—as girls could boast,—
Till broad as Buenos Ayre,
Myself a millionnaire
In little wealths,—as girls could boast,—
Till broad as Buenos Ayre,
You drifted your dominions
A different Peru;
And I esteemed all poverty,
For life's estate with you.
A different Peru;
And I esteemed all poverty,
For life's estate with you.
Of mines I little know, myself,
But just the names of gems,—
The colors of the commonest;
And scarce of diadems
But just the names of gems,—
The colors of the commonest;
And scarce of diadems
So much that, did I meet the queen,
Her glory I should know:
But this must be a different wealth,
To miss it beggars so.
Her glory I should know:
But this must be a different wealth,
To miss it beggars so.
92
I'm sure 't is India all day
To those who look on you
Without a stint, without a blame,—
Might I but be the Jew!
To those who look on you
Without a stint, without a blame,—
Might I but be the Jew!
I'm sure it is Golconda,
Beyond my power to deem,—
To have a smile for mine each day,
How better than a gem!
Beyond my power to deem,—
To have a smile for mine each day,
How better than a gem!
At least, it solaces to know
That there exists a gold,
Although I prove it just in time
Its distance to behold!
That there exists a gold,
Although I prove it just in time
Its distance to behold!
It 's far, far treasure to surmise,
And estimate the pearl
That slipped my simple fingers through
While just a girl at school!
And estimate the pearl
That slipped my simple fingers through
While just a girl at school!
| Poems by Emily Dickinson | |