Emily Dickinson

Small, like the Wren, and my Hair is bold, like the Chestnut Bur - and my eyes, like the Sherry in the Glass, that the Guest leaves -

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

I make His Crescent fill or lack —
His Nature is at Full
Or Quarter — as I signify —
His Tides — do I control —

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

Where Thou art not — is Woe —
Tho' Bands of Spices — row —
What Thou dost not — Despair —
Tho' Gabriel — praise me — Sire —

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

What Thou dost — is Delight —
Bondage as Play — be sweet —
Imprisonment — Content —
And Sentence — Sacrament —
Just We two — meet —

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

Where Thou art — that — is Home —
Cashmere — or Calvary — the same —
Degree — or Shame —
I scarce esteem Location's Name —
So I may Come —

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

Is part of an inquiry
That will receive reply
When Flesh and Spirit sunder
In Death's Immediately —

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

Why Birds, a Summer morning
Before the Quick of Day
Should stab my ravished spirit
With Dirks of Melody

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

One Joy of so much anguish
Sweet nature has for me
I shun it as I do Despair
Or dear iniquity —

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

Dreams — are well — but Waking's better,
If One wake at morn —
If One wake at Midnight — better —
Dreaming — of the Dawn —

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

But He, the best Logician,
Refers my clumsy eye —
To just vibrating Blossoms!
An Exquisite Reply!

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

And He and I, perplex us
If positive, 'twere we —
Or bore the Garden in the Brain
This Curiosity —

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

Till every spice is tasted —
And then his Fairy Gig
Reels in remoter atmospheres —
And I rejoin my Dog,

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

He never stops, but slackens
Above the Ripest Rose —
Partakes without alighting
And praises as he goes,

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

Within my Garden, rides a Bird
Upon a single Wheel —
Whose spokes a dizzy Music make
As 'twere a travelling Mill —

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

As Children strictest kept
Turn soonest to the sea
Whose nameless Fathoms slink away
Beside infinity

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

Contained in this short Life
Are magical extents
The soul returning soft at night
To steal securer thence

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

In this short Life
That only lasts an hour
How much — how little — is
Within our power

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

For thee to bloom, I'll skip the tomb
And row my blossoms o'er!
Pray gather me —
Anemone —
Thy flower — forevermore!

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

Summer for thee, grant I may be
When Summer days are flown!
Thy music still, when Whipporwill
And Oriole — are done!

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

Fame of Myself to lack — Although
My Name be else Supreme —
This were an Honor honorless —
A futile Diadem —

[Emily Dickinson @EmilyEDickinson]

Fame of Myself, to justify,
All other Plaudit be
Superfluous — An Incense
Beyond Necessity —