All Poems
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He preached upon "Breadth" till it argued him narrow --
© Emily Dickinson
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 --
He parts Himself -- like Leaves --
© Emily Dickinson
He parts Himself -- like Leaves --
And then -- He closes up --
Then stands upon the Bonnet
Of Any Buttercup --
He outstripped Time with but a Bout,
© Emily Dickinson
He outstripped Time with but a Bout,
He outstripped Stars and Sun
And then, unjaded, challenged God
In presence of the Throne.
He lived the Life of Ambush
© Emily Dickinson
He lived the Life of Ambush
And went the way of Dusk
And now against his subtle name
There stands an Asterisk
He is alive, this morning --
© Emily Dickinson
He is alive, this morning --
He is alive -- and awake --
Birds are resuming for Him --
Blossoms -- dress for His Sake.
He gave away his Life --
© Emily Dickinson
He gave away his Life --
To Us -- Gigantic Sum --
A trifle -- in his own esteem --
But magnified -- by Fame --
He found my Being -- set it up --
© Emily Dickinson
He found my Being -- set it up --
Adjusted it to place --
Then carved his name -- upon it --
And bade it to the East
He fought like those Who've nought to lose --
© Emily Dickinson
He fought like those Who've nought to lose --
Bestowed Himself to Balls
As One who for a further Life
Had not a further Use --
He forgot -- and I -- remembered
© Emily Dickinson
He forgot -- and I -- remembered --
'Twas an everyday affair --
Long ago as Christ and Peter --
"Warmed them" at the "Temple fire."
Have any like Myself
© Emily Dickinson
Have any like Myself
Investigating March,
New Houses on the Hill descried --
And possibly a Church --
Had we our senses
© Emily Dickinson
Had we our senses
But perhaps 'tis well they're not at Home
So intimate with Madness
He's liable with them
Had we known the Ton she bore
© Emily Dickinson
Had we known the Ton she bore
We had helped the terror
But she straighter walked for Freight
So be hers the error --
Had this one Day not been.
© Emily Dickinson
Had this one Day not been.
Or could it cease to be
How smitten, how superfluous,
Were every other Day!
Had I presumed to hope --
© Emily Dickinson
Had I presumed to hope --
The loss had been to Me
A Value -- for the Greatness' Sake --
As Giants -- gone away --
Had I not This, or This, I said,
© Emily Dickinson
Had I not This, or This, I said,
Appealing to Myself,
In moment of prosperity --
Inadequate -- were Life --
Had I not seen the Sun
© Emily Dickinson
Had I not seen the Sun
I could have borne the shade
But Light a newer Wilderness
My Wilderness has made --
Had I known that the first was the last
© Emily Dickinson
Had I known that the first was the last
I should have kept it longer.
Had I known that the last was the first
I should have drunk it stronger.
Guest am I to have
© Emily Dickinson
Guest am I to have
Light my northern room
Why to cordiality so averse to come
Other friends adjourn
Growth of Man -- like Growth of Nature --
© Emily Dickinson
Growth of Man -- like Growth of Nature --
Gravitates within --
Atmosphere, and Sun endorse it --
Bit it stir -- alone --
Grief is a Mouse --
© Emily Dickinson
Grief is a Mouse --
And chooses Wainscot in the Breast
For His Shy House --
And baffles quest --
