Poems by Emily Dickinson | ||
137
IV.
TIME AND ETERNITY.
139
[I. This world is not conclusion]
This world is not conclusion;A sequel stands beyond,
Invisible, as music,
But positive, as sound.
It beckons and it baffles;
Philosophies don't know,
And through a riddle, at the last,
Sagacity must go.
To guess it puzzles scholars;
To gain it, men have shown
Contempt of generations,
And crucifixion known.
140
[II. We learn in the retreating]
We learn in the retreating
How vast an one
Was recently among us.
A perished sun
How vast an one
Was recently among us.
A perished sun
Endears in the departure
How doubly more
Than all the golden presence
It was before!
How doubly more
Than all the golden presence
It was before!
141
[III. They say that time assuages]
They say that ‘time assuages,’—
Time never did assuage;
An actual suffering strengthens,
As sinews do, with age.
Time never did assuage;
An actual suffering strengthens,
As sinews do, with age.
Time is a test of trouble,
But not a remedy.
If such it prove, it prove too
There was no malady.
But not a remedy.
If such it prove, it prove too
There was no malady.
142
[IV. We cover thee, sweet face]
We cover thee, sweet face.Not that we tire of thee,
But that thyself fatigue of us;
Remember, as thou flee,
We follow thee until
Thou notice us no more,
And then, reluctant, turn away
To con thee o'er and o'er,
And blame the scanty love
We were content to show,
Augmented, sweet, a hundred fold
If thou would'st take it now.
143
V.
ENDING.
That is solemn we have ended,—
Be it but a play,
Or a glee among the garrets,
Or a holiday,
Be it but a play,
Or a glee among the garrets,
Or a holiday,
Or a leaving home; or later,
Parting with a world
We have understood, for better
Still it be unfurled.
Parting with a world
We have understood, for better
Still it be unfurled.
144
[VI. The stimulus, beyond the grave]
The stimulus, beyond the graveHis countenance to see,
Supports me like imperial drams
Afforded royally.
145
[VII. Given in marriage unto the]
Given in marriage unto thee,
Oh, thou celestial host!
Bride of the Father and the Son,
Bride of the Holy Ghost!
Oh, thou celestial host!
Bride of the Father and the Son,
Bride of the Holy Ghost!
Other betrothal shall dissolve,
Wedlock of will decay;
Only the keeper of this seal
Conquers mortality.
Wedlock of will decay;
Only the keeper of this seal
Conquers mortality.
146
[VIII. That such have died enables us]
That such have died enables usThe tranquiller to die;
That such have lived, certificate
For immortality.
147
[IX. They won't frown always,—some sweet day]
They won't frown always,—some sweet day
When I forget to tease,
They'll recollect how cold I looked,
And how I just said ‘please.’
When I forget to tease,
They'll recollect how cold I looked,
And how I just said ‘please.’
Then they will hasten to the door
To call the little child,
Who cannot thank them, for the ice
That on her lisping piled.
To call the little child,
Who cannot thank them, for the ice
That on her lisping piled.
148
X.
IMMORTALITY.
It is an honorable thought,
And makes one lift one's hat,
As one encountered gentlefolk
Upon a daily street,
And makes one lift one's hat,
As one encountered gentlefolk
Upon a daily street,
That we've immortal place,
Though pyramids decay,
And kingdoms, like the orchard,
Flit russetly away.
Though pyramids decay,
And kingdoms, like the orchard,
Flit russetly away.
149
[XI. The distance that the dead have gone]
The distance that the dead have gone
Does not at first appear;
Their coming back seems possible
For many an ardent year.
Does not at first appear;
Their coming back seems possible
For many an ardent year.
And then, that we have followed them
We more than half suspect,
So intimate have we become
With their dear retrospect.
We more than half suspect,
So intimate have we become
With their dear retrospect.
150
[XII. How dare the robins sing]
How dare the robins sing,When men and women hear
Who since they went to their account
Have settled with the year!—
Paid all that life had earned
In one consummate bill,
And now, what life or death can do
Is immaterial.
Insulting is the sun
To him whose mortal light,
Beguiled of immortality,
Bequeaths him to the night.
In deference to him
Extinct be every hum,
Whose garden wrestles with the dew,
At daybreak overcome!
151
XIII.
DEATH.
Death is like the insect
Menacing the tree,
Competent to kill it,
But decoyed may be.
Menacing the tree,
Competent to kill it,
But decoyed may be.
Bait it with the balsam,
Seek it with the knife,
Baffle, if it cost you
Everything in life.
Seek it with the knife,
Baffle, if it cost you
Everything in life.
Then, if it have burrowed
Out of reach of skill,
Ring the tree and leave it,—
'T is the vermin's will.
Out of reach of skill,
Ring the tree and leave it,—
'T is the vermin's will.
152
XIV.
UNWARNED.
'T is sunrise, little maid, hast thou
No station in the day?
'T was not thy wont to hinder so,—
Retrieve thine industry.
No station in the day?
'T was not thy wont to hinder so,—
Retrieve thine industry.
'T is noon, my little maid, alas!
And art thou sleeping yet?
The lily waiting to be wed,
The bee, dost thou forget?
And art thou sleeping yet?
The lily waiting to be wed,
The bee, dost thou forget?
My little maid, 't is night; alas,
That night should be to thee
Instead of morning! Hadst thou broached
Thy little plan to me,
Dissuade thee if I could not, sweet,
I might have aided thee.
That night should be to thee
Instead of morning! Hadst thou broached
Thy little plan to me,
Dissuade thee if I could not, sweet,
I might have aided thee.
153
[XV. Each that we lose takes part of us]
Each that we lose takes part of us;A crescent still abides,
Which like the moon, some turbid night,
Is summoned by the tides.
154
[XVI. Not any higher stands the grave]
Not any higher stands the grave
For heroes than for men;
Not any nearer for the child
Than numb three-score and ten.
For heroes than for men;
Not any nearer for the child
Than numb three-score and ten.
This latest leisure equal lulls
The beggar and his queen;
Propitiate this democrat
By summer's gracious mien.
The beggar and his queen;
Propitiate this democrat
By summer's gracious mien.
155
XVII.
ASLEEP.
As far from pity as complaint,
As cool to speech as stone,
As numb to revelation
As if my trade were bone.
As cool to speech as stone,
As numb to revelation
As if my trade were bone.
As far from time as history,
As near yourself to-day
As children to the rainbow's scarf,
Or sunset's yellow play
As near yourself to-day
As children to the rainbow's scarf,
Or sunset's yellow play
To eyelids in the sepulchre.
How still the dancer lies,
While color's revelations break,
And blaze the butterflies!
How still the dancer lies,
While color's revelations break,
And blaze the butterflies!
156
XVIII.
THE SPIRIT.
'T is whiter than an Indian pipe,
'T is dimmer than a lace;
No stature has it, like a fog,
When you approach the place.
'T is dimmer than a lace;
No stature has it, like a fog,
When you approach the place.
Not any voice denotes it here,
Or intimates it there;
A spirit, how doth it accost?
What customs hath the air?
Or intimates it there;
A spirit, how doth it accost?
What customs hath the air?
This limitless hyperbole
Each one of us shall be;
'T is drama, if (hypothesis)
It be not tragedy!
Each one of us shall be;
'T is drama, if (hypothesis)
It be not tragedy!
157
XIX.
THE MONUMENT.
She laid her docile crescent down,
And this mechanic stone
Still states, to dates that have forgot,
The news that she is gone.
And this mechanic stone
Still states, to dates that have forgot,
The news that she is gone.
So constant to its stolid trust,
The shaft that never knew,
It shames the constancy that fled
Before its emblem flew.
The shaft that never knew,
It shames the constancy that fled
Before its emblem flew.
158
[XX. Bless God, he went as soldiers]
Bless God, he went as soldiers,
His musket on his breast;
Grant, God, he charge the bravest
Of all the martial blest.
His musket on his breast;
Grant, God, he charge the bravest
Of all the martial blest.
Please God, might I behold him
In epauletted white,
I should not fear the foe then,
I should not fear the fight.
In epauletted white,
I should not fear the foe then,
I should not fear the fight.
159
[XXI. Immortal is an ample word]
Immortal is an ample word
When what we need is by,
But when it leaves us for a time,
'T is a necessity.
When what we need is by,
But when it leaves us for a time,
'T is a necessity.
Of heaven above the firmest proof
We fundamental know,
Except for its marauding hand,
It had been heaven below.
We fundamental know,
Except for its marauding hand,
It had been heaven below.
160
[XXII. Where every bird is bold to go]
Where every bird is bold to go,And bees abashless play,
The foreigner before he knocks
Must thrust the tears away.
161
[XXIII. The grave my little cottage is]
The grave my little cottage is,
Where, keeping house for thee,
I make my parlor orderly,
And lay the marble tea,
Where, keeping house for thee,
I make my parlor orderly,
And lay the marble tea,
For two divided, briefly,
A cycle, it may be,
Till everlasting life unite
In strong society.
A cycle, it may be,
Till everlasting life unite
In strong society.
162
[XXIV. This was in the white of the year]
This was in the white of the year,
That was in the green,
Drifts were as difficult then to think
As daisies now to be seen.
That was in the green,
Drifts were as difficult then to think
As daisies now to be seen.
Looking back is best that is left,
Or if it be before,
Retrospection is prospect's half,
Sometimes almost more.
Or if it be before,
Retrospection is prospect's half,
Sometimes almost more.
163
[XXV. Sweet hours have perished here]
Sweet hours have perished here;This is a mighty room;
Within its precincts hopes have played,—
Now shadows in the tomb.
164
[XXVI. Me! Come! My dazzled face]
Me! Come! My dazzled face
In such a shining place!
In such a shining place!
Me! Hear! My foreign ear
The sounds of welcome near!
The sounds of welcome near!
The saints shall meet
Our bashful feet.
Our bashful feet.
My holiday shall be
That they remember me;
That they remember me;
My paradise, the fame
That they pronounce my name.
That they pronounce my name.
165
XXVII.
INVISIBLE.
From us she wandered now a year,
Her tarrying unknown;
If wilderness prevent her feet,
Or that ethereal zone
Her tarrying unknown;
If wilderness prevent her feet,
Or that ethereal zone
No eye hath seen and lived,
We ignorant must be.
We only know what time of year
We took the mystery.
We ignorant must be.
We only know what time of year
We took the mystery.
166
[XXVIII. Me! Come! My dazzled face]
Me! Come! My dazzled face,
So, when she comes this way,
To hold my life, and hold my ears,
For fear I hear her say
So, when she comes this way,
To hold my life, and hold my ears,
For fear I hear her say
She's ‘sorry I am dead,’ again,
Just when the grave and I
Have sobbed ourselves almost to sleep,—
Our only lullaby.
Just when the grave and I
Have sobbed ourselves almost to sleep,—
Our only lullaby.
167
XXIX.
TRYING TO FORGET.
Bereaved of all, I went abroad,
No less bereaved to be
Upon a new peninsula,—
The grave preceded me,
No less bereaved to be
Upon a new peninsula,—
The grave preceded me,
Obtained my lodgings ere myself,
And when I sought my bed,
The grave it was, reposed upon
The pillow for my head.
And when I sought my bed,
The grave it was, reposed upon
The pillow for my head.
I waked, to find it first awake,
I rose,—it followed me;
I tried to drop it in the crowd,
To lose it in the sea,
I rose,—it followed me;
I tried to drop it in the crowd,
To lose it in the sea,
In cups of artificial drowse
To sleep its shape away,—
The grave was finished, but the spade
Remained in memory.
To sleep its shape away,—
The grave was finished, but the spade
Remained in memory.
168
[XXX. I felt a funeral in my brain]
I felt a funeral in my brain,
And mourners, to and fro,
Kept treading, treading, till it seemed
That sense was breaking through.
And mourners, to and fro,
Kept treading, treading, till it seemed
That sense was breaking through.
And when they all were seated,
A service like a drum
Kept beating, beating, till I thought
My mind was going numb.
A service like a drum
Kept beating, beating, till I thought
My mind was going numb.
And then I heard them lift a box,
And creak across my soul
With those same boots of lead, again.
Then space began to toll
And creak across my soul
With those same boots of lead, again.
Then space began to toll
As all the heavens were a bell,
And Being but an ear,
And I and silence some strange race,
Wrecked, solitary, here.
And Being but an ear,
And I and silence some strange race,
Wrecked, solitary, here.
169
[XXXI. I meant to find her when I came]
I meant to find her when I came;
Death had the same design;
But the success was his, it seems,
And the discomfit mine.
Death had the same design;
But the success was his, it seems,
And the discomfit mine.
I meant to tell her how I longed
For just this single time;
But Death had told her so the first,
And she had hearkened him.
For just this single time;
But Death had told her so the first,
And she had hearkened him.
To wander now is my abode;
To rest,—to rest would be
A privilege of hurricane
To memory and me.
To rest,—to rest would be
A privilege of hurricane
To memory and me.
170
XXXII.
WAITING.
I sing to use the waiting,
My bonnet but to tie,
And shut the door unto my house;
No more to do have I,
My bonnet but to tie,
And shut the door unto my house;
No more to do have I,
Till, his best step approaching,
We journey to the day,
And tell each other how we sang
To keep the dark away.
We journey to the day,
And tell each other how we sang
To keep the dark away.
171
[XXXIII. A sickness of this world it most occasions]
A sickness of this world it most occasions
When best men die;
A wishfulness their far condition
To occupy.
When best men die;
A wishfulness their far condition
To occupy.
A chief indifference, as foreign
A world must be
Themselves forsake contented,
For Deity.
A world must be
Themselves forsake contented,
For Deity.
172
[XXXIV. Superfluous were the sun]
Superfluous were the sun
When excellence is dead;
He were superfluous every day,
For every day is said
When excellence is dead;
He were superfluous every day,
For every day is said
That syllable whose faith
Just saves it from despair,
And whose ‘I'll meet you’ hesitates
If love inquire, ‘Where?’
Just saves it from despair,
And whose ‘I'll meet you’ hesitates
If love inquire, ‘Where?’
Upon his dateless fame
Our periods may lie,
As stars that drop anonymous
From an abundant sky.
Our periods may lie,
As stars that drop anonymous
From an abundant sky.
173
[XXXV. So proud she was to die]
So proud she was to die
It made us all ashamed
That what we cherished, so unknown
To her desire seemed.
It made us all ashamed
That what we cherished, so unknown
To her desire seemed.
So satisfied to go
Where none of us should be,
Immediately, that anguish stooped
Almost to jealousy.
Where none of us should be,
Immediately, that anguish stooped
Almost to jealousy.
174
XXXVI.
FAREWELL.
Tie the strings to my life, my Lord,
Then I am ready to go!
Just a look at the horses—
Rapid! That will do!
Then I am ready to go!
Just a look at the horses—
Rapid! That will do!
Put me in on the firmest side,
So I shall never fall;
For we must ride to the Judgment,
And it 's partly down hill.
So I shall never fall;
For we must ride to the Judgment,
And it 's partly down hill.
But never I mind the bridges,
And never I mind the sea;
Held fast in everlasting race
By my own choice and thee.
And never I mind the sea;
Held fast in everlasting race
By my own choice and thee.
Good-by to the life I used to live,
And the world I used to know;
And kiss the hills for me, just once;
Now I am ready to go!
And the world I used to know;
And kiss the hills for me, just once;
Now I am ready to go!
175
[XXXVII. The dying need but little, dear]
The dying need but little, dear,—
A glass of water 's all,
A flower's unobtrusive face
To punctuate the wall,
A glass of water 's all,
A flower's unobtrusive face
To punctuate the wall,
A fan, perhaps, a friend's regret,
And certainly that one
No color in the rainbow
Perceives when you are gone.
And certainly that one
No color in the rainbow
Perceives when you are gone.
176
XXXVIII.
DEAD.
There's something quieter than sleep
Within this inner room!
It wears a sprig upon its breast,
And will not tell its name.
Within this inner room!
It wears a sprig upon its breast,
And will not tell its name.
Some touch it and some kiss it,
Some chafe its idle hand;
It has a simple gravity
I do not understand!
Some chafe its idle hand;
It has a simple gravity
I do not understand!
While simple-hearted neighbors
Chat of the ‘early dead,’
We, prone to periphrasis,
Remark that birds have fled!
Chat of the ‘early dead,’
We, prone to periphrasis,
Remark that birds have fled!
177
[XXXIX. The soul should always stand ajar]
The soul should always stand ajar,
That if the heaven inquire,
He will not be obliged to wait,
Or shy of troubling her.
That if the heaven inquire,
He will not be obliged to wait,
Or shy of troubling her.
Depart, before the host has slid
The bolt upon the door,
To seek for the accomplished guest,—
Her visitor no more.
The bolt upon the door,
To seek for the accomplished guest,—
Her visitor no more.
178
[XL. Three weeks passed since I had seen her]
Three weeks passed since I had seen her,—
Some disease had vexed;
'T was with text and village singing
I beheld her next,
Some disease had vexed;
'T was with text and village singing
I beheld her next,
And a company—our pleasure
To discourse alone;
Gracious now to me as any,
Gracious unto none.
To discourse alone;
Gracious now to me as any,
Gracious unto none.
Borne, without dissent of either,
To the parish night;
Of the separated people
Which are out of sight?
To the parish night;
Of the separated people
Which are out of sight?
179
[XLI. I breathed enough to learn the trick]
I breathed enough to learn the trick,
And now, removed from air,
I simulate the breath so well,
That one, to be quite sure
And now, removed from air,
I simulate the breath so well,
That one, to be quite sure
The lungs are stirless, must descend
Among the cunning cells,
And touch the pantomime himself.
How cool the bellows feels!
Among the cunning cells,
And touch the pantomime himself.
How cool the bellows feels!
180
[XLII. I wonder if the sepulchre]
I wonder if the sepulchreIs not a lonesome way,
When men and boys, and larks and June
Go down the fields to hay!
181
XLIII.
JOY IN DEATH.
If tolling bell I ask the cause.
‘A soul has gone to God,’
I'm answered in a lonesome tone;
Is heaven then so sad?
‘A soul has gone to God,’
I'm answered in a lonesome tone;
Is heaven then so sad?
That bells should joyful ring to tell
A soul had gone to heaven,
Would seem to me the proper way
A good news should be given.
A soul had gone to heaven,
Would seem to me the proper way
A good news should be given.
182
[XLIV. If I may have it when it's dead]
If I may have it when it's dead
I will contented be;
If just as soon as breath is out
It shall belong to me,
I will contented be;
If just as soon as breath is out
It shall belong to me,
Until they lock it in the grave,
'T is bliss I cannot weigh,
For though they lock thee in the grave,
Myself can hold the key.
'T is bliss I cannot weigh,
For though they lock thee in the grave,
Myself can hold the key.
Think of it, lover! I and thee
Permitted face to face to be;
After a life, a death we'll say,—
For death was that, and this is thee.
Permitted face to face to be;
After a life, a death we'll say,—
For death was that, and this is thee.
183
[XLV. Before the ice is in the pools]
Before the ice is in the pools,
Before the skaters go,
Or any cheek at nightfall
Is tarnished by the snow,
Before the skaters go,
Or any cheek at nightfall
Is tarnished by the snow,
Before the fields have finished,
Before the Christmas tree,
Wonder upon wonder
Will arrive to me!
Before the Christmas tree,
Wonder upon wonder
Will arrive to me!
What we touch the hems of
On a summer's day;
What is only walking
Just a bridge away;
On a summer's day;
What is only walking
Just a bridge away;
That which sings so, speaks so,
When there 's no one here,—
Will the frock I wept in
Answer me to wear?
When there 's no one here,—
Will the frock I wept in
Answer me to wear?
184
XLVI.
DYING.
I heard a fly buzz when I died;
The stillness round my form
Was like the stillness in the air
Between the heaves of storm.
The stillness round my form
Was like the stillness in the air
Between the heaves of storm.
The eyes beside had wrung them dry,
And breaths were gathering sure
For that last onset, when the king
Be witnessed in his power.
And breaths were gathering sure
For that last onset, when the king
Be witnessed in his power.
I willed my keepsakes, signed away
What portion of me I
Could make assignable,—and then
There interposed a fly,
What portion of me I
Could make assignable,—and then
There interposed a fly,
With blue, uncertain, stumbling buzz,
Between the light and me;
And then the windows failed, and then
I could not see to see.
Between the light and me;
And then the windows failed, and then
I could not see to see.
185
[XLVII. Adrift! A little boat adrift]
Adrift! A little boat adrift!
And night is coming down!
Will no one guide a little boat
Unto the nearest town?
And night is coming down!
Will no one guide a little boat
Unto the nearest town?
So sailors say, on yesterday,
Just as the dusk was brown,
One little boat gave up its strife,
And gurgled down and down.
Just as the dusk was brown,
One little boat gave up its strife,
And gurgled down and down.
But angels say, on yesterday,
Just as the dawn was red,
One little boat o'erspent with gales
Retrimmed its masts, redecked its sails
Exultant, onward sped!
Just as the dawn was red,
One little boat o'erspent with gales
Retrimmed its masts, redecked its sails
Exultant, onward sped!
186
[XLVIII. There's been a death in the opposite house]
There's been a death in the opposite house
As lately as to-day.
I know it by the numb look
Such houses have alway.
As lately as to-day.
I know it by the numb look
Such houses have alway.
The neighbors rustle in and out,
The doctor drives away.
A window opens like a pod,
Abrupt, mechanically;
The doctor drives away.
A window opens like a pod,
Abrupt, mechanically;
Somebody flings a mattress out,—
The children hurry by;
They wonder if It died on that,—
I used to when a boy.
The children hurry by;
They wonder if It died on that,—
I used to when a boy.
The minister goes stiffly in
As if the house were his,
And he owned all the mourners now,
And little boys besides;
As if the house were his,
And he owned all the mourners now,
And little boys besides;
187
And then the milliner, and the man
Of the appalling trade,
To take the measure of the house.
There'll be that dark parade
Of the appalling trade,
To take the measure of the house.
There'll be that dark parade
Of tassels and of coaches soon;
It 's easy as a sign,—
The intuition of the news
In just a country town.
It 's easy as a sign,—
The intuition of the news
In just a country town.
188
[XLIX. We never know we go,—when we are going]
We never know we go,—when we are goingWe jest and shut the door;
Fate following behind us bolts it,
And we accost no more.
189
L.
THE SOUL'S STORM.
It struck me every day
The lightning was as new
As if the cloud that instant slit
And let the fire through.
The lightning was as new
As if the cloud that instant slit
And let the fire through.
It burned me in the night,
It blistered in my dream;
It sickened fresh upon my sight
With every morning's beam.
It blistered in my dream;
It sickened fresh upon my sight
With every morning's beam.
I thought that storm was brief,—
The maddest, quickest by;
But Nature lost the date of this,
And left it in the sky.
The maddest, quickest by;
But Nature lost the date of this,
And left it in the sky.
190
[LI. Water is taught by thirst]
Water is taught by thirst;Land, by the oceans passed;
Transport, by throe;
Peace, by its battles told;
Love, by memorial mould;
Birds, by the snow.
191
LII.
THIRST.
We thirst at first,—'t is Nature's act;
And later, when we die,
A little water supplicate
Of fingers going by.
And later, when we die,
A little water supplicate
Of fingers going by.
It intimates the finer want,
Whose adequate supply
Is that great water in the west
Termed immortality.
Whose adequate supply
Is that great water in the west
Termed immortality.
192
[LIII. A clock stopped—not the mantel's]
A clock stopped—not the mantel's;
Geneva's farthest skill
Can't put the puppet bowing
That just now dangled still.
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.
The figures hunched with pain,
Then quivered out of decimals
Into degreeless noon.
It will not stir for doctors,
This pendulum of snow;
The shopman importunes it,
While cool, concernless No
This pendulum of snow;
The shopman importunes it,
While cool, concernless No
Nods from the gilded pointers,
Nods from the seconds slim,
Decades of arrogance between
The dial life and him.
Nods from the seconds slim,
Decades of arrogance between
The dial life and him.
193
LIV.
CHARLOTTE BRONTË'S GRAVE.
All overgrown by cunning moss,
All interspersed with weed,
The little cage of ‘Currer Bell,’
In quiet Haworth laid.
All interspersed with weed,
The little cage of ‘Currer Bell,’
In quiet Haworth laid.
This bird, observing others,
When frosts too sharp became,
Retire to other latitudes,
Quietly did the same,
When frosts too sharp became,
Retire to other latitudes,
Quietly did the same,
But differed in returning;
Since Yorkshire hills are green,
Yet not in all the nests I meet
Can nightingale be seen.
Since Yorkshire hills are green,
Yet not in all the nests I meet
Can nightingale be seen.
Gathered from many wanderings,
Gethsemane can tell
Through what transporting anguish
She reached the asphodel!
Gethsemane can tell
Through what transporting anguish
She reached the asphodel!
194
Soft fall the sounds of Eden
Upon her puzzled ear;
Oh, what an afternoon for heaven,
When ‘Brontë’ entered there!
Upon her puzzled ear;
Oh, what an afternoon for heaven,
When ‘Brontë’ entered there!
195
[LV. A toad can die of light]
A toad can die of light!Death is the common right
Of toads and men,—
Of earl and midge
The privilege.
Why swagger then?
The gnat's supremacy
Is large as thine.
196
[LVI. Far from love the Heavenly Father]
Far from love the Heavenly Father
Leads the chosen child;
Oftener through realm of briar
Than the meadow mild,
Leads the chosen child;
Oftener through realm of briar
Than the meadow mild,
Oftener by the claw of dragon
Than the hand of friend,
Guides the little one predestined
To the native land.
Than the hand of friend,
Guides the little one predestined
To the native land.
197
LVII.
SLEEPING.
A long, long sleep, a famous sleep
That makes no show for dawn
By stretch of limb or stir of lid,—
An independent one.
That makes no show for dawn
By stretch of limb or stir of lid,—
An independent one.
Was ever idleness like this?
Within a hut of stone
To bask the centuries away
Nor once look up for noon?
Within a hut of stone
To bask the centuries away
Nor once look up for noon?
198
LVIII.
RETROSPECT.
'T was just this time last year I died.
I know I heard the corn,
When I was carried by the farms,—
It had the tassels on.
I know I heard the corn,
When I was carried by the farms,—
It had the tassels on.
I thought how yellow it would look
When Richard went to mill;
And then I wanted to get out,
But something held my will.
When Richard went to mill;
And then I wanted to get out,
But something held my will.
I thought just how red apples wedged
The stubble's joints between;
And carts went stooping round the fields
To take the pumpkins in.
The stubble's joints between;
And carts went stooping round the fields
To take the pumpkins in.
I wondered which would miss me least,
And when Thanksgiving came,
If father'd multiply the plates
To make an even sum.
And when Thanksgiving came,
If father'd multiply the plates
To make an even sum.
199
And if my stocking hung too high,
Would it blur the Christmas glee,
That not a Santa Claus could reach
The altitude of me?
Would it blur the Christmas glee,
That not a Santa Claus could reach
The altitude of me?
But this sort grieved myself, and so
I thought how it would be
When just this time, some perfect year,
Themselves should come to me.
I thought how it would be
When just this time, some perfect year,
Themselves should come to me.
200
LIX.
ETERNITY.
On this wondrous sea,
Sailing silently,
Ho! pilot, ho!
Knowest thou the shore
Where no breakers roar,
Where the storm is o'er?
Sailing silently,
Ho! pilot, ho!
Knowest thou the shore
Where no breakers roar,
Where the storm is o'er?
In the silent west
Many sails at rest,
Their anchors fast;
Thither I pilot thee,—
Land, ho! Eternity!
Ashore at last!
Many sails at rest,
Their anchors fast;
Thither I pilot thee,—
Land, ho! Eternity!
Ashore at last!
Poems by Emily Dickinson | ||