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Authors: Emily Dickinson
The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) (7 page)
BOOK: The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)
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XL
THE thought beneath so slight a film
Is more distinctly seen,—
As laces just reveal the surge,
Or mists the Apennine.
28
Is more distinctly seen,—
As laces just reveal the surge,
Or mists the Apennine.
28
XLI
THE soul unto itself
Is an imperial friend,—
Or the most agonizing spy
An enemy could send.
Is an imperial friend,—
Or the most agonizing spy
An enemy could send.
Secure against its own,
No treason it can fear;
Itself its sovereign, of itself
The soul should stand in awe.
No treason it can fear;
Itself its sovereign, of itself
The soul should stand in awe.
XLII
SURGEONS must be very careful
When they take the knife!
Underneath their fine incisions
Stirs the culprit,—Life!
When they take the knife!
Underneath their fine incisions
Stirs the culprit,—Life!
XLIII
I like to see it lap the miles,
And lick the valleys up,
And stop to feed itself at tanks;
And then, prodigious, step
And lick the valleys up,
And stop to feed itself at tanks;
And then, prodigious, step
Around a pile of mountains,
And, supercilious, peer
In shanties by the sides of roads;
And then a quarry pare
And, supercilious, peer
In shanties by the sides of roads;
And then a quarry pare
To fit its sides, and crawl between,
Complaining all the while
In horrid, hooting stanza;
Then chase itself down hill
Complaining all the while
In horrid, hooting stanza;
Then chase itself down hill
And neigh like Boanerges;
29
Then, punctual as a star,
Stop—docile and omnipotent—
At its own stable door.
29
Then, punctual as a star,
Stop—docile and omnipotent—
At its own stable door.
XLIV
THE show is not the show,
But they that go.
Menagerie to me
My neighbor be.
Fair play-
Both went to see.
But they that go.
Menagerie to me
My neighbor be.
Fair play-
Both went to see.
XLV
DELIGHT becomes pictorial
When viewed through pain,—
More fair, because impossible
That any gain.
When viewed through pain,—
More fair, because impossible
That any gain.
The mountain at a given distance
In amber lies;
Approached, the amber flits a little,—
And that’s the skies!
In amber lies;
Approached, the amber flits a little,—
And that’s the skies!
XLVI
A thought went up my mind to-day
That I have had before,
But did not finish,—some way back,
I could not fix the year,
That I have had before,
But did not finish,—some way back,
I could not fix the year,
Nor where it went, nor why it came
The second time to me,
Nor definitely what it was,
Have I the art to say.
The second time to me,
Nor definitely what it was,
Have I the art to say.
But somewhere in my soul, I know
I’ve met the thing before;
It just reminded me—’t was all—
And came my way no more.
I’ve met the thing before;
It just reminded me—’t was all—
And came my way no more.
XLVII
Is Heaven a physician?
They say that He can heal;
But medicine posthumous
Is unavailable.
They say that He can heal;
But medicine posthumous
Is unavailable.
XLVIII
THOUGH I get home how late, how late!
So I get home, ’t will compensate.
Better will be the ecstasy
That they have done expecting me,
When, night descending, dumb and dark,
They hear my unexpected knock.
Transporting must the moment be,
Brewed from decades of agony!
So I get home, ’t will compensate.
Better will be the ecstasy
That they have done expecting me,
When, night descending, dumb and dark,
They hear my unexpected knock.
Transporting must the moment be,
Brewed from decades of agony!
To think just how the fire will burn,
Just how long-cheated eyes will turn
To wonder what myself will say,
And what itself will say to me,
Beguiles the centuries of way!
Just how long-cheated eyes will turn
To wonder what myself will say,
And what itself will say to me,
Beguiles the centuries of way!
XLIX
A poor torn heart, a tattered heart,
That sat it down to rest,
Nor noticed that the ebbing day
Flowed silver to the west,
Nor noticed night did soft descend
Nor constellation burn,
Intent upon the vision
Of latitudes unknown.
That sat it down to rest,
Nor noticed that the ebbing day
Flowed silver to the west,
Nor noticed night did soft descend
Nor constellation burn,
Intent upon the vision
Of latitudes unknown.
The angels, happening that way,
This dusty heart espied;
Tenderly took it up from toil
And carried it to God.
There,—sandals for the barefoot;
There,—gathered from the gales,
Do the blue havens by the hand
Lead the wandering sails.
This dusty heart espied;
Tenderly took it up from toil
And carried it to God.
There,—sandals for the barefoot;
There,—gathered from the gales,
Do the blue havens by the hand
Lead the wandering sails.
L
I should have been too glad, I see,
Too lifted for the scant degree
Of life’s penurious round;
My little circuit would have shamed
This new circumference, have blamed
The homelier time behind.
Too lifted for the scant degree
Of life’s penurious round;
My little circuit would have shamed
This new circumference, have blamed
The homelier time behind.
I should have been too saved, I see,
Too rescued; fear too dim to me
That I could spell the prayer
I knew so perfect yesterday,—
That scalding one, “Sabachthani,”
31
Recited fluent here.
Too rescued; fear too dim to me
That I could spell the prayer
I knew so perfect yesterday,—
That scalding one, “Sabachthani,”
31
Recited fluent here.
Earth would have been too much, I see,
And heaven not enough for me;
I should have had the joy
Without the fear to justify,—
The palm without the Calvary;
32
So, Saviour, crucify.
And heaven not enough for me;
I should have had the joy
Without the fear to justify,—
The palm without the Calvary;
32
So, Saviour, crucify.
Defeat whets victory, they say;
The reefs in old Gethsemane
33
Endear the shore beyond.
’T is beggars banquets best define;
’T is thirsting vitalizes wine,—
Faith faints to understand.
The reefs in old Gethsemane
33
Endear the shore beyond.
’T is beggars banquets best define;
’T is thirsting vitalizes wine,—
Faith faints to understand.
LI
IT tossed and tossed,—
A little brig
34
I knew,—
O‘ertook by blast,
It spun and spun,
And groped delirious, for morn.
A little brig
34
I knew,—
O‘ertook by blast,
It spun and spun,
And groped delirious, for morn.
It slipped and slipped,
As one that drunken stepped;
Its white foot tripped,
Then dropped from sight.
As one that drunken stepped;
Its white foot tripped,
Then dropped from sight.
Ah, brig, good-night
To crew and you;
The ocean’s heart too smooth, too blue,
To break for you.
To crew and you;
The ocean’s heart too smooth, too blue,
To break for you.
LII
VICTORY comes late,
And is held low to freezing lips
Too rapt with frost
To take it.
How sweet it would have tasted,
Just a drop!
Was God so economical?
His table’s spread too high for us
Unless we dine on tip-toe.
Crumbs fit such little mouths,
Cherries suit robins;
The eagle’s golden breakfast
Strangles them.
God keeps his oath to sparrows,
Who of little love
Know how to starve!
And is held low to freezing lips
Too rapt with frost
To take it.
How sweet it would have tasted,
Just a drop!
Was God so economical?
His table’s spread too high for us
Unless we dine on tip-toe.
Crumbs fit such little mouths,
Cherries suit robins;
The eagle’s golden breakfast
Strangles them.
God keeps his oath to sparrows,
Who of little love
Know how to starve!
LIII
GOD gave a loaf to every bird,
But just a crumb to me;
I dare not eat it, though I starve,—
My poignant luxury
To own it, touch it, prove the feat
That made the pellet mine,—
Too happy in my sparrow chance
For ampler coveting.
But just a crumb to me;
I dare not eat it, though I starve,—
My poignant luxury
To own it, touch it, prove the feat
That made the pellet mine,—
Too happy in my sparrow chance
For ampler coveting.
It might be famine all around,
I could not miss an ear,
Such plenty smiles upon my board,
My garner
35
shows so fair.
I wonder how the rich may feel,—
An Indiaman—an Earl?
I deem that I with but a crumb
Am sovereign of them all.
I could not miss an ear,
Such plenty smiles upon my board,
My garner
35
shows so fair.
I wonder how the rich may feel,—
An Indiaman—an Earl?
I deem that I with but a crumb
Am sovereign of them all.
LIV
EXPERIMENT to me
Is every one I meet.
If it contain a kernel?
The figure of a nut
Is every one I meet.
If it contain a kernel?
The figure of a nut
Presents upon a tree,
Equally plausibly;
But meat within is requisite,
To squirrels and to me.
Equally plausibly;
But meat within is requisite,
To squirrels and to me.
LV
MY country need not change her gown,
Her triple suit as sweet
As when ’t was cut at Lexington,
36
And first pronounced “a fit.”
Her triple suit as sweet
As when ’t was cut at Lexington,
36
And first pronounced “a fit.”
Great Britain disapproves “the stars”;
Disparagement discreet,—
There’s something in their attitude
That taunts her bayonet.
Disparagement discreet,—
There’s something in their attitude
That taunts her bayonet.
LVI
FAITH is a fine invention
For gentlemen who see;
But microscopes are prudent
In an emergency!
For gentlemen who see;
But microscopes are prudent
In an emergency!
LVII
EXCEPT the heaven had come so near,
So seemed to choose my door,
The distance would not haunt me so;
I had not hoped before.
So seemed to choose my door,
The distance would not haunt me so;
I had not hoped before.
But just to hear the grace depart
I never thought to see,
Afflicts me with a double loss;
’T is lost, and lost to me.
I never thought to see,
Afflicts me with a double loss;
’T is lost, and lost to me.
LVIII
PORTRAITS are to daily faces
As an evening west
To a fine, pedantic sunshine
In a satin vest.
As an evening west
To a fine, pedantic sunshine
In a satin vest.
LIX
I took my power in my hand
And went against the world;
’T was not so much as David
37
had,
But I was twice as bold.
And went against the world;
’T was not so much as David
37
had,
But I was twice as bold.
I aimed my pebble, but myself
Was all the one that fell.
Was it Goliath was too large,
Or only I too small?
Was all the one that fell.
Was it Goliath was too large,
Or only I too small?
LX
A shady friend for torrid days
Is easier to find
Than one of higher temperature
For frigid hour of mind.
Is easier to find
Than one of higher temperature
For frigid hour of mind.
The vane a little to the east
Scares muslin souls away;
If broadcloth breasts are firmer
Than those of organdy,
38
Scares muslin souls away;
If broadcloth breasts are firmer
Than those of organdy,
38
Who is to blame? The weaver?
Ah! the bewildering thread!
The tapestries of paradise
So notelessly are made!
Ah! the bewildering thread!
The tapestries of paradise
So notelessly are made!
LXI
EACH life converges to some centre
Expressed or still;
Exists in every human nature
A goal,
Expressed or still;
Exists in every human nature
A goal,
Admitted scarcely to itself, it may be,
Too fair
For credibility’s temerity
To dare.
Too fair
For credibility’s temerity
To dare.
Yet persevered toward, surer for the distance;
How high
Unto the saints’ slow diligence
The sky!
How high
Unto the saints’ slow diligence
The sky!
Ungained, it may be, by a life’s low venture,
But then,
Eternity enables the endeavoring
Again.
But then,
Eternity enables the endeavoring
Again.
LXII
BEFORE I got my eye put out,
I liked as well to see
As other creatures that have eyes,
And know no other way.
I liked as well to see
As other creatures that have eyes,
And know no other way.
But were it told to me, to-day,
That I might have the sky
For mine, I tell you that my heart
Would split, for size of me.
That I might have the sky
For mine, I tell you that my heart
Would split, for size of me.
The meadows mine, the mountains mine,—
All forests, stintless
40
stars,
As much of noon as I could take
Between my finite eyes.
All forests, stintless
40
stars,
As much of noon as I could take
Between my finite eyes.
The motions of the dipping birds,
The lightning’s jointed road,
For mine to look at when I liked,—
The news would strike me dead!
The lightning’s jointed road,
For mine to look at when I liked,—
The news would strike me dead!
So, safer, guess, with just my soul
Upon the window-pane
Where other creatures put their eyes,
Incautious of the sun.
Upon the window-pane
Where other creatures put their eyes,
Incautious of the sun.
LXIII
TALK with prudence to a beggar
Of “Potosi”
41
and the mines!
Reverently to the hungry
Of your viands
42
and your wines!
Of “Potosi”
41
and the mines!
Reverently to the hungry
Of your viands
42
and your wines!
Cautious, hint to any captive
You have passed enfranchised feet!
Anecdotes of air in dungeons
Have sometimes proved deadly sweet!
You have passed enfranchised feet!
Anecdotes of air in dungeons
Have sometimes proved deadly sweet!
LXIV
HE preached upon “breadth” till it argued him
narrow,—
The broad are too broad to define;
And of “truth” until it proclaimed him a liar,—
The truth never flaunted a sign.
narrow,—
The broad are too broad to define;
And of “truth” until it proclaimed him a liar,—
The truth never flaunted a sign.
Simplicity fled from his counterfeit presence
As gold the pyrites
43
would shun.
What confusion would cover the innocent Jesus
To meet so enabled a man!
As gold the pyrites
43
would shun.
What confusion would cover the innocent Jesus
To meet so enabled a man!
LXV
GOOD night! which put the candle out?
A jealous zephyr,
44
not a doubt.
Ah! friend, you little knew
How long at that celestial wick
The angels labored diligent;
Extinguished, now, for you!
A jealous zephyr,
44
not a doubt.
Ah! friend, you little knew
How long at that celestial wick
The angels labored diligent;
Extinguished, now, for you!
It might have been the lighthouse spark
Some sailor, rowing in the dark,
Had importuned to see!
It might have been the waning lamp
That lit the drummer from the camp
To purer reveille!
45
Some sailor, rowing in the dark,
Had importuned to see!
It might have been the waning lamp
That lit the drummer from the camp
To purer reveille!
45
LXVI
WHEN I hoped I feared,
Since I hoped I dared;
Everywhere alone
As a church remain;
Spectre cannot harm,
Serpent cannot charm;
He deposes doom,
Who hath suffered him.
Since I hoped I dared;
Everywhere alone
As a church remain;
Spectre cannot harm,
Serpent cannot charm;
He deposes doom,
Who hath suffered him.
LXVII
A deed knocks first at thought,
And then it knocks at will.
That is the manufacturing spot,
And will at home and well.
And then it knocks at will.
That is the manufacturing spot,
And will at home and well.
It then goes out an act,
Or is entombed so still
That only to the ear of God
Its doom is audible.
Or is entombed so still
That only to the ear of God
Its doom is audible.
LXVIII
MINE enemy is growing old,—
I have at last revenge.
The palate of the hate departs;
If any would avenge,—
I have at last revenge.
The palate of the hate departs;
If any would avenge,—
Let him be quick, the viand flits,
It is a faded meat.
Anger as soon as fed is dead;
’T is starving makes it fat.
It is a faded meat.
Anger as soon as fed is dead;
’T is starving makes it fat.
LXIX
REMORSE is memory awake,
Her companies astir,—
A presence of departed acts
At window and at door.
Her companies astir,—
A presence of departed acts
At window and at door.
Its past set down before the soul,
And lighted with a match,
Perusal to facilitate
Of its condensed despatch.
And lighted with a match,
Perusal to facilitate
Of its condensed despatch.
Remorse is cureless,—the disease
Not even God can heal;
For ’t is His institution,—
The complement of hell.
Not even God can heal;
For ’t is His institution,—
The complement of hell.
LXX
THE body grows outside,—
The more convenient way,—
That if the spirit like to hide,
Its temple stands alway
The more convenient way,—
That if the spirit like to hide,
Its temple stands alway
Ajar, secure, inviting;
It never did betray
The soul that asked its shelter
In timid honesty.
It never did betray
The soul that asked its shelter
In timid honesty.
LXXI
UNDUE significance a starving man attaches
To food
Far off; he sighs, and therefore hopeless,
And therefore good.
To food
Far off; he sighs, and therefore hopeless,
And therefore good.
Partaken, it relieves indeed, but proves us
That spices fly
In the receipt. It was the distance
Was savory.
That spices fly
In the receipt. It was the distance
Was savory.
LXXII
HEART not so heavy as mine,
Wending late home,
As it passed my window
Whistled itself a tune,—
Wending late home,
As it passed my window
Whistled itself a tune,—
A careless snatch, a ballad,
A ditty of the street;
Yet to my irritated ear
An anodyne so sweet,
A ditty of the street;
Yet to my irritated ear
An anodyne so sweet,
It was as if a bobolink,
46
Sauntering this way,
Carolled and mused and carolled,
Then bubbled slow away.
46
Sauntering this way,
Carolled and mused and carolled,
Then bubbled slow away.
It was as if a chirping brook
Upon a toilsome way
Set bleeding feet to minuets
47
Without the knowing why.
Upon a toilsome way
Set bleeding feet to minuets
47
Without the knowing why.
To-morrow, night will come again,
Weary, perhaps, and sore.
Ah, bugle, by my window,
I pray you stroll once more!
Weary, perhaps, and sore.
Ah, bugle, by my window,
I pray you stroll once more!
LXXIII
I many times thought peace had come,
When peace was far away;
As wrecked men deem they sight the land
At centre of the sea,
When peace was far away;
As wrecked men deem they sight the land
At centre of the sea,
And struggle slacker, but to prove,
As hopelessly as I,
How many the fictitious shores
Before the harbor lie.
As hopelessly as I,
How many the fictitious shores
Before the harbor lie.
LXXIV
UNTO my books so good to turn
Far ends of tired days;
It half endears the abstinence,
And pain is missed in praise.
Far ends of tired days;
It half endears the abstinence,
And pain is missed in praise.
As flavors cheer retarded guests
With banquetings to be,
So spices stimulate the time
Till my small library.
With banquetings to be,
So spices stimulate the time
Till my small library.
It may be wilderness without,
Far feet of failing men,
But holiday excludes the night,
And it is bells within.
Far feet of failing men,
But holiday excludes the night,
And it is bells within.
I thank these kinsmen of the shelf;
Their countenances bland
Enamour in prospective,
48
And satisfy, obtained.
Their countenances bland
Enamour in prospective,
48
And satisfy, obtained.
LXXV
THIS merit hath the worst,—
It cannot be again.
When Fate hath taunted last
And thrown her furthest stone,
It cannot be again.
When Fate hath taunted last
And thrown her furthest stone,
The maimed may pause and breathe,
And glance securely round.
The deer invites no longer
Than it eludes the hound.
And glance securely round.
The deer invites no longer
Than it eludes the hound.
BOOK: The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)
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