Emily Dickinson

With thee, in the Desert —
With thee in the thirst —
With thee in the Tamarind wood —
Leopard breathes — at last!
-Emily Dickinson

Wolfe demanded during dying
“Which obtain the Day”?
“General, the British” — “Easy”
Answered Wolfe “to die”

Montcalm, his opposing Spirit
Rendered with a smile
“Sweet” said he “my own Surrender
Liberty’s beguile”
-Emily Dickinson

Wonder — is not precisely Knowing
And not precisely Knowing not —
A beautiful but bleak condition
He has not lived who has not felt —

Suspense — is his maturer Sister —
Whether Adult Delight is Pain
Or of itself a new misgiving —
This is the Gnat that mangles men —
-Emily Dickinson

Would you like summer?  Taste of ours.
Spices?  Buy here!
Ill!  We have berries, for the parching!
Weary!  Furloughs of down!
Perplexed!  Estates of violet trouble ne’er looked on!
Captive!  We bring reprieve of roses!
Fainting!  Flasks of air!
Even for Death, a fairy medicine.
But, which is it, sir?
-Emily Dickinson

Yesterday is History,
‘Tis so far away —
Yesterday is Poetry —
‘Tis Philosophy —

Yesterday is mystery —
Where it is Today
While we shrewdly speculate
Flutter both away
-Emily Dickinson

You cannot make Remembrance grow
When it has lost its Root —
The tightening the Soil around
And setting it upright
Deceives perhaps the Universe
But not retrieves the Plant —
Real Memory, like Cedar Feet
Is shod with Adamant —
Nor can you cut Remembrance down
When it shall once have grown —
Its Iron Buds will sprout anew
However overthrown —
-Emily Dickinson

You cannot put a Fire out —
A Thing that can ignite
Can go, itself, without a Fan —
Upon the slowest Night —

You cannot fold a Flood —
And put it in a Drawer —
Because the Winds would find it out —
And tell your Cedar Floor —
-Emily Dickinson

You constituted Time —
I deemed Eternity
A Revelation of Yourself —
‘Twas therefore Deity

The Absolute — removed
The Relative away —
That I unto Himself adjust
My slow idolatry —
-Emily Dickinson

You know that Portrait in the Moon —
So tell me who ’tis like —
The very Brow — the stooping eyes —
A fog for — Say — Whose Sake?

The very Pattern of the Cheek —
It varies — in the Chin —
But — Ishmael — since we met — ’tis long —
And fashions — intervene —

When Moon’s at full — ‘Tis Thou — I say —
My lips just hold the name

You left me — Sire — two Legacies —
A Legacy of Love
A Heavenly Father would suffice
Had He the offer of —

You left me Boundaries of Pain —
Capacious as the Sea —
Between Eternity and Time —
Your Consciousness — and Me —
-Emily Dickinson

You’ll find — it when you try to die —
The Easier to let go —
For recollecting such as went —
You could not spare — you know.

And though their places somewhat filled —
As did their Marble names
With Moss — they never grew so full —
You chose the newer names —

And when this World — sets further back —
As Dying — say it does —
The former love — distincter grows —
And

You’ll know Her — by Her Foot —
The smallest Gamboge Hand
With Fingers — where the Toes should be —
Would more affront the Sand —

Than this Quaint Creature’s Boot —
Adjusted by a Stern —
Without a Button — I could vouch —
Unto a Velvet Limb —

You’ll know Her — by Her Vest —
Tight fitting — Orange — Brown —
Inside a Jacket duller —
She wore when she was born —

Her Cap is

You’ll know it — as you know ’tis Noon —
By Glory —
As you do the Sun —
By Glory —
As you will in Heaven —
Know God the Father — and the Son.

By intuition, Mightiest Things
Assert themselves — and not by terms —
“I’m Midnight” — need the Midnight say —
“I’m Sunrise” — Need the Majesty?

Omnipotence — had not a Tongue —
His listp — is Lightning — and the Sun —
His Conversation

You love me — you are sure —
I shall not fear mistake —
I shall not cheated wake —
Some grinning morn —
To find the Sunrise left —
And Orchards — unbereft —
And Dollie — gone!

I need not start — you’re sure —
That night will never be —
When frightened — home to Thee I run —
To find the windows dark —
And no more Dollie — mark —
Quite none?

Be sure you’re sure —

You love the Lord — you cannot see –
You write Him – every day –
A little note – when you awake –
And further in the Day.

An Ample Letter – How you miss –
And would delight to see –
But then His House – is but a Step –
And Mine’s – in Heaven – You see.
-Emily Dickinson

Your Riches — taught me — Poverty.
Myself — a Millionaire
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 —

Of Mines, I little know — myself —
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

You’re right — “the way is narrow” —
And “difficult the Gate” —
And “few there be” — Correct again —
That “enter in — thereat” —

‘Tis Costly — So are purples!
‘Tis just the price of Breath —
With but the “Discount” of the Grave —
Termed by the Brokers — “Death”!

And after that — there’s Heaven —
The Good Man’s — “Dividend” —
And Bad Men — “go to Jail” —
I guess —
-Emily Dickinson

Your thoughts don’t have words every day
They come a single time
Like signal esoteric sips
Of the communion Wine
Which while you taste so native seems
So easy so to be
You cannot comprehend its price
Nor its infrequency
-Emily Dickinson

You said that I “was Great” — one Day —
Then “Great” it be — if that please Thee —
Or Small — or any size at all —
Nay — I’m the size suit Thee —

Tall — like the Stag — would that?
Or lower — like the Wren —
Or other heights of Other Ones
I’ve seen?

Tell which — it’s dull to guess —
And I must be Rhinoceros
Or Mouse —
At once — for

You see I cannot see – your lifetime –
I must guess –
How many times it ache for me – today – Confess –
How many times for my far sake
The brave eyes film
But I guess guessing hurts
Mine – got so dim!

Too vague – the face –
My own – so patient – covers –
Too far – the strength –
My timidness enfolds –
Haunting the Heart –
Like her translated faces –
Teasing

You taught me Waiting with Myself —
Appointment strictly kept —
You taught me fortitude of Fate —
This — also — I have learnt —

An Altitude of Death, that could
No bitterer debar
Than Life — had done — before it —
Yet — there is a Science more —

The Heaven you know — to understand
That you be not ashamed
Of Me — in Christ’s bright Audience
Upon the further Hand —
-Emily Dickinson

You’ve seen Balloons set — Haven’t You?
So stately they ascend —
It is as Swans — discarded You,
For Duties Diamond —

Their Liquid Feet go softly out
Upon a Sea of Blonde —
They spurn the Air, as t’were too mean
For Creatures so renowned —

Their Ribbons just beyond the eye —
They struggle — some — for Breath —
And yet the Crowd applaud, below —
They would not encore — Death —

The Gilded Creature strains