Life poems
/ page 834 of 844 /
Death's Waylaying not the sharpest
© Emily Dickinson
Death's Waylaying not the sharpest
Of the thefts of Time --
There Marauds a sorer Robber,
Silence -- is his name --
Crisis is a Hair
© Emily Dickinson
Crisis is a Hair
Toward which the forces creep
Past which forces retrograde
If it come in sleep
Contained in this short Life
© Emily Dickinson
Contained in this short Life
Are magical extents
The soul returning soft at night
To steal securer thence
Because that you are going
© Emily Dickinson
Because that you are going
And never coming back
And I, however absolute,
May overlook your Track --
At leisure is the Soul
© Emily Dickinson
At leisure is the Soul
That gets a Staggering Blow --
The Width of Life -- before it spreads
Without a thing to do --
At last, to be identified!
© Emily Dickinson
At last, to be identified!
At last, the lamps upon thy side
The rest of Life to see!
As plan for Noon and plan for Night
© Emily Dickinson
As plan for Noon and plan for Night
So differ Life and Death
In positive Prospective --
The Foot upon the Earth
Although I put away his life
© Emily Dickinson
Although I put away his life --
An Ornament too grand
For Forehead low as mine, to wear,
This might have been the Hand
Air has no Residence, no Neighbor,
© Emily Dickinson
Air has no Residence, no Neighbor,
No Ear, no Door,
No Apprehension of Another
Oh, Happy Air!
Again -- his voice is at the door --
© Emily Dickinson
Again -- his voice is at the door --
I feel the old Degree --
I hear him ask the servant
For such an one -- as me --
Advance is Life's condition
© Emily Dickinson
Advance is Life's condition
The Grave but a Relay
Supposed to be a terminus
That makes it hated so --
A Toad, can die of Light --
© Emily Dickinson
Life -- is a different Thing --
So measure Wine --
Naked of Flask -- Naked of Cask --
Bare Rhine --
Which Ruby's mine?
A still -- Volcano -- Life --
© Emily Dickinson
A still -- Volcano -- Life --
That flickered in the night --
When it was dark enough to do
Without erasing sight --
A solemn thing -- it was -- I said
© Emily Dickinson
A solemn thing -- it was -- I said --
A woman -- white -- to be --
And wear -- if God should count me fit --
Her blameless mystery --
A Saucer holds a Cup
© Emily Dickinson
A Saucer holds a Cup
In sordid human Life
But in a Squirrel's estimate
A Saucer hold a Loaf.
A Planted Life -- diversified
© Emily Dickinson
A Planted Life -- diversified
With Gold and Silver Pain
To prove the presence of the Ore
In Particles -- 'tis when
A little bread -- a crust -- a crumb
© Emily Dickinson
A little bread -- a crust -- a crumb --
A little trust -- a demijohn --
Can keep the soul alive --
Not portly, mind! but breathing -- warm --
Conscious -- as old Napoleon,
The night before the Crown!
A Dew sufficed itself --
© Emily Dickinson
A Dew sufficed itself --
And satisfied a Leaf
And felt "how vast a destiny" --
"How trivial is Life!"
A Death blow is a Life blow to Some
© Emily Dickinson
A Death blow is a Life blow to Some
Who till they died, did not alive become --
Who had they lived, had died but when
They died, Vitality begun.
A Clock stopped
© Emily Dickinson
A Clock stopped --
Not the Mantel's --
Geneva's farthest skill
Can't put the puppet bowing --
That just now dangled still --
