Emily Dickinson

Some Rainbow — coming from the Fair!
Some Vision of the World Cashmere —
I confidently see!
Or else a Peacock’s purple Train
Feather by feather — on the plain
Fritters itself away!

The dreamy Butterflies bestir!
Lethargic pools resume the whir
Of last year’s sundered tune!
From some old Fortress on the sun
Baronial Bees — march — one by one —
In murmuring platoon!

The Robins stand as thick today
As flakes of snow stood yesterday —
On fence — and

Somehow myself survived the Night
And entered with the Day —
That it be saved the Saved suffice
Without the Formula.

Henceforth I take my living place
As one commuted led —
A Candidate for Morning Chance
But dated with the Dead.
-Emily Dickinson

Some keep the Sabbath going to Church —
I keep it, staying at Home —
With a Bobolink for a Chorister —
And an Orchard, for a Dome —

Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice —
I just wear my Wings —
And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,
Our little Sexton — sings.

God preaches, a noted Clergyman —
And the sermon is never long,
So instead of getting to Heaven, at last —
I’m going, all along.

Some one prepared this mighty show
To which without a Ticket go
The nations and the Days –

Displayed before the simplest Door
That all may witness it and more,
The pomp of summer Days.
-Emily Dickinson

Some say goodnight — at night —
I say goodnight by day —
Good-bye — the Going utter me —
Goodnight, I still reply —

For parting, that is night,
And presence, simply dawn —
Itself, the purple on the height
Denominated morn.
-Emily Dickinson

Some such Butterfly be seen
On Brazilian Pampas —
Just at noon — no later — Sweet —
Then — the License closes —

Some such Spice — express and pass —
Subject to Your Plucking —
As the Stars — You knew last Night —
Foreigners — This Morning —
-Emily Dickinson

Some things that fly there be —
Birds — Hours — the Bumblebee —
Of these no Elegy.

Some things that stay there be —
Grief — Hills — Eternity —
Nor this behooveth me.

There are that resting, rise.
Can I expound the skies?
How still the Riddle lies!
-Emily Dickinson

Sometimes with the Heart
Seldom with the Soul
Scarcer once with the Might
Few — love at all.
-Emily Dickinson

Some, too fragile for winter winds
The thoughtful grave encloses —
Tenderly tucking them in from frost
Before their feet are cold.

Never the treasures in her nest
The cautious grave exposes,
Building where schoolboy dare not look,
And sportsman is not bold.

This covert have all the children
Early aged, and often cold,
Sparrow, unnoticed by the Father —
Lambs for whom time had not a fold.

Some we see no more, Tenements of Wonder
Occupy to us though perhaps to them
Simpler are the Days than the Supposition
Leave us to presume

That oblique Belief which we call Conjecture
Grapples with a Theme stubborn as Sublime
Able as the Dust to equip its feature
Adequate as Drums
To enlist the Tomb.

-Emily Dickinson

Somewhat, to hope for,
Be it ne’er so far
Is Capital against Despair —

Somewhat, to suffer,
Be it ne’er so keen —
If terminable, may be borne.
-Emily Dickinson

Somewhere upon the general Earth
Itself exist Today —
The Magic passive but extant
That consecrated me —

Indifferent Seasons doubtless play
Where I for right to be —
Would pay each Atom that I am
But Immortality —

Reserving that but just to prove
Another Date of Thee —
Oh God of Width, do not for us
Curtail Eternity!

-Emily Dickinson

Soto! Explore thyself!
Therein thyself shalt find
The “Undiscovered Continent” –
No Settler had the Mind.
-Emily Dickinson

Soul, Wilt thou toss again?
By just such a hazard
Hundreds have lost indeed —
But tens have won an all —

Angel’s breathless ballot
Lingers to record thee —
Imps in eager Caucus
Raffle for my Soul!
-Emily Dickinson

South Winds jostle them —
Bumblebees come —
Hover — hesitate —
Drink, and are gone —

Butterflies pause
On their passage Cashmere —
I — softly plucking,
Present them here!
-Emily Dickinson

Speech is one symptom of Affection
And Silence one —
The perfectest communication
Is heard of none —

Exists and its indorsement
Is had within —
Behold, said the Apostle,
Yet had not seen!
-Emily Dickinson

Split the Lark — and you’ll find the Music —
Bulb after Bulb, in Silver rolled —
Scantilly dealt to the Summer Morning
Saved for your Ear when Lutes be old.

Loose the Flood — you shall find it patent —
Gush after Gush, reserved for you —
Scarlet Experiment! Sceptic Thomas!
Now, do you doubt that your Bird was true?

Spring comes on the World —
I sight the Aprils —
Hueless to me until thou come
As, till the Bee
Blossoms stand negative,
Touched to Conditions
By a Hum.
-Emily Dickinson

Spring is the Period
Express from God.
Among the other seasons
Himself abide,

But during March and April
None stir abroad
Without a cordial interview
With God.
-Emily Dickinson

Spurn the temerity —
Rashness of Calvary —
Gay were Gethsemane
Knew we of Thee —
-Emily Dickinson

Step lightly on this narrow spot —
The broadest Land that grows
Is not so ample as the Breast
These Emerald Seams enclose.

Step lofty, for this name be told
As far as Cannon dwell
Or Flag subsist or Fame export
Her deathless Syllable.
-Emily Dickinson

Still own thee — still thou art
What surgeons call alive —
Though slipping — slipping I perceive
To thy reportless Grave —

Which question shall I clutch —
What answer wrest from thee
Before thou dost exude away
In the recallless sea?
-Emily Dickinson

Strong Draughts of Their Refreshing Minds
To drink — enables Mine
Through Desert or the Wilderness
As bore it Sealed Wine —

To go elastic — Or as One
The Camel’s trait — attained —
How powerful the Stimulus
Of an Hermetic Mind —
-Emily Dickinson