Emily Dickinson 

 
 
 

49 

 
 

I never lost as much but twice,  
And that was in the sod.  
Twice have I stood a beggar  
Before the door of God!  
 
Angels – twice descending  
Reimbursed my store –  
Burglar! Banker – Father!  
I am poor once more!  
 
1858? 

 

      1890 

 

 
 
 

________________ 

 
 
 

241 

 

I like a look of Agony,  
Because I know it’s true –  
Men do not sham Convulsion,  
Nor simulate, a Throe –  
 
The Eyes glaze once – and that is Death –  
Impossible to feign  
The Beads upon the Forehead  
By homely Anguish strung.  
 
1861? 

 

      1890 

 

 
 
 

________________ 

 

324 

 
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, 

 

2

Our little Sexton -- sings. 
 
God preaches, a noted Clergyman -- 
And the sermon is never long, 
So instead of getting to Heaven, at least -- 
I'm going, all along. 

 

________________ 

 

465 

 

I heard a Fly buzz – when I died –  
The Stillness in the Room 
Was like the Stillness in the Air –  
Between the Heaves of Storm –  
 
The Eyes around – had wrung them dry –  
And Breaths were gathering firm  
For the last Onset – when the King  
Be witnessed – in the Room –  
 
I willed my Keepsakes – Signed away  
What portion of me be  
Assignable – and then it was  
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 –  
 
1862? 

 

      1896 

 

 

________________ 

 

520 

 
 

I started Early -- Took my Dog -- 
And visited the Sea -- 
The Mermaids in the Basement 
Came out to look at me -- 
 
And Frigates -- in the Upper Floor 
Extended Hempen Hands -- 
Presuming Me to be a Mouse -- 
Aground -- upon the Sands -- 
 
But no Man moved Me -- till the Tide 
Went past my simple Shoe -- 
And past my Apron -- and my Belt -- 
And past my Bodice -- too -- 
 

 

3

And made as He would eat me up -- 
As wholly as a Dew 
Upon a Dandelion's Sleeve -- 
And then -- I started -- too -- 
 
And He -- He followed -- close behind -- 
I felt his Silver Heel 
Upon my Ankle -- Then my Shoes 
Would overflow with Pearl -- 
 
Until We met the Solid Town -- 
No One He seemed to know -- 
And bowing -- with a Might look -- 
At me -- The Sea withdrew -- 

 

________________ 

 

536 

 

The Heart asks Pleasure – first –  
And then – Excuse from Pain –  
And then – those little Anodynes  
That deaden suffering –  
 
And then – to go to sleep –  
And then – if it should be  
The will of its Inquisitor  
The privilege to die –  

 
 

________________ 

 
 

632 

 

The Brain – is wider than the sky –  
For – put them side by side  –  
The one the other will contain  
With ease – and You – beside –  
 
The Brain is deeper than the sea –  
For – hold them  – Blue to Blue –  
The one the other will absorb –  
As Sponges – Buckets – do –  
 
The Brain is just the weight of God –  
For – Heft them – Pound by Pound –  
And they will differ – if they do –  
As Syllable from Sound –  
 
1862? 

 

      1896 

 

 
 

 

4

________________ 

 

 
 

986 

 

A narrow Fellow in the Grass  
Occasionally rides  –  
You may have met Him – did you not  
His notice sudden is –  
 
The Grass divides as with a Comb –  
A spotted shaft is seen –  
And then it closes at your feet  
And opens further on –  
 
He likes a Boggy Acre 
A Floor too cool for corn –  
Yet when a Boy, and Barefoot –  
I more than once at Noon  
Have passed, I thought, a Whip lash  
Unbraiding in the Sun  
When stooping to secure it  
It wrinkled, and was gone –  
 
Several of Nature’s People  
I know, and they know me –  
I feel for them a transport  
Of cordiality –  
 
But never met this Fellow  
Attended, or alone 
Without a tighter breathing  
And Zero at the Bone –  
 
1865 

  

1866,  1891   

 

 

________________ 

 

1052 

 

I never saw a Moor -- 
I never saw the Sea -- 
Yet know I how the Heather looks 
And what a Billow be. 
 
I never spoke with God 
Nor visited in Heaven -- 
Yet certain am I of the spot 
As if the Checks were given -- 

 

________________ 

 

5

 
 

1129 

 

Tell all the truth but tell it slant –  
Success in Circuit lies  
Too bright for our infirm Delight  
The Truth’s superb surprise  
As Lightning to the Children eased  
With explanation kind  
The Truth must dazzle gradually  
Or every man be blind –  
 
1868? 

 

      1945 

 

 
 
 

________________ 

 
 

1624 

 

Apparently with no surprise 
To any happy Flower 
The Frost beheads it at its play -- 
In accidental power -- 
The blonde Assassin passes on -- 
The Sun proceeds unmoved 
To measure off another Day 
For an Approving God.