Life poems
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The Manner of its Death
© Emily Dickinson
The Manner of its Death
When Certain it must die --
'Tis deemed a privilege to choose --
'Twas Major Andre's Way --
The Love a Life can show Below
© Emily Dickinson
The Love a Life can show Below
Is but a filament, I know,
Of that diviner thing
That faints upon the face of Noon --
And smites the Tinder in the Sun --
And hinders Gabriel's Wing --
The Life we have is very great.
© Emily Dickinson
The Life we have is very great.
The Life that we shall see
Surpasses it, we know, because
It is Infinity.
The grave my little cottage is,
© Emily Dickinson
The grave my little cottage is,
Where "Keeping house" for thee
I make my parlor orderly
And lay the marble tea.
The Frost of Death was on the Pane --
© Emily Dickinson
The Frost of Death was on the Pane --
"Secure your Flower" said he.
Like Sailors fighting with a Leak
We fought Mortality.
That odd old man is dead a year --
© Emily Dickinson
That odd old man is dead a year --
We miss his stated Hat.
'Twas such an evening bright and stiff
His faded lamp went out.
Summer is shorter than any one --
© Emily Dickinson
Summer is shorter than any one --
Life is shorter than Summer --
Seventy Years is spent as quick
As an only Dollar --
She rose to His Requirement -- dropt
© Emily Dickinson
She rose to His Requirement -- dropt
The Playthings of Her Life
To take the honorable Work
Of Woman, and of Wife --
She lay as if at play
© Emily Dickinson
She lay as if at play
Her life had leaped away --
Intending to return --
But not so soon --
She hideth Her the last --
© Emily Dickinson
She hideth Her the last --
And is the first, to rise --
Her Night doth hardly recompense
The Closing of Her eyes --
Promise This -- When You be Dying --
© Emily Dickinson
Promise This -- When You be Dying --
Some shall summon Me --
Mine belong Your latest Sighing --
Mine -- to Belt Your Eye --
Ourselves were wed one summer -- dear --
© Emily Dickinson
Ourselves were wed one summer -- dear --
Your Vision -- was in June --
And when Your little Lifetime failed,
I wearied -- too -- of mine --
Our little Kinsmen -- after Rain
© Emily Dickinson
Our little Kinsmen -- after Rain
In plenty may be seen,
A Pink and Pulpy multitude
The tepid Ground upon.
One Blessing had I than the rest
© Emily Dickinson
One Blessing had I than the rest
So larger to my Eyes
That I stopped gauging -- satisfied --
For this enchanted size --
One and One -- are One --
© Emily Dickinson
One and One -- are One --
Two -- be finished using --
Well enough for Schools --
But for Minor Choosing --
Of Life to own --
© Emily Dickinson
Of Life to own --
From Life to draw --
But never tough the reservoir --
Of God we ask one favor,
© Emily Dickinson
Of God we ask one favor,
That we may be forgiven --
For what, he is presumed to know --
The Crime, from us, is hidden --
Not in this World to see his face
© Emily Dickinson
Not in this World to see his face --
Sounds long -- until I read the place
Where this -- is said to be
But just the Primer -- to a life --
Unopened -- rare -- Upon the Shelf --
Clasped yet -- to Him -- and Me --
Morning that comes but once,
© Emily Dickinson
Morning that comes but once,
Considers coming twice --
Two Dawns upon a single Morn,
Make Life a sudden price.
More Life -- went out -- when He went
© Emily Dickinson
More Life -- went out -- when He went
Than Ordinary Breath --
Lit with a finer Phosphor --
Requiring in the Quench --
