I cannot live with You (640) I cannot live with You –It would be Life –And Life is over there –Behind the Shelf The Sexton keeps the Key to –Putting upOur Life – His Porcelain –Like a Cup – Discarded of the Housewife –Quaint – or Broke –A newer Sevres pleases –Old Ones crack –… Continue reading Emily Dickinson
Pain — has an Element of Blank —It cannot recollectWhen it begun — or if there wereA time when it was not — It has no Future — but itself —Its Infinite realms containIts Past — enlightened to perceiveNew Periods — of Pain. —Emily Dickinson, “Pain — has an Element of Blank —,” [650], The… Continue reading Emily Dickinson
So we must meet apart—You there—I—hereWith just the Door ajarThat Oceans are—and Prayer—And that White Sustenance—Despair— — Emily Dickinson, from “I Cannot Live with You,” The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson (Little,Brown and Company, 1960)
‘Tis not that Dying hurts us so—‘Tis Living—hurts us more— — Emily Dickinson, from “’Tis not that Dying hurts us so—,” [335], The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson (Little, Brown & Co.,1960)
The Red Leaves take the Green Leaves placeand the Landscape yields.We go to sleep with the Peach in our Handsand wake with the Stone,But the Stone is the pledge of Summers to come— — Emily Dickinson, [268]. New Poems of Emily Dickinson. (The University of North Carolina Press January 1, 2015) Originally published September… Continue reading Emily Dickinson
‘Twas just this time, last year, I died.I know I heard the Corn,When I was carried by the Farms —It had the Tassels on — I thought how yellow it would look —When Richard went to mill —And then, I wanted to get out,But something held my will. I thought just how Red — Apples… Continue reading Emily Dickinson
I heard a Fly buzz – when I died – The Stillness in the RoomWas like the Stillness in the Air – Between the Heaves of Storm – The Eyes around – had wrung them dry – And Breaths were gathering firmFor that last Onset – when the KingBe witnessed – in the Room –… Continue reading Emily Dickinson
How many flowers fail in Wood – Or perish from the Hill – Without the privilege to know That they are Beautiful – How many cast a nameless Pod Upon the nearest Breeze – Unconscious of the Scarlet Freight – It bear to other eyes – — Emily Dickinson, from “Fascicle Twenty-Eight, Sheet Three, spring… Continue reading Emily Dickinson
To wait an Hour – is long – If Love be just beyond – To wait Eternity – is short – If Love reward the end – — Emily Dickinson, from “Fascicle Thirty-Nine, Sheet Four, early 1864,” Emily Dickinson’s Poems As She Preserved Them, ed. Christanne Miller (Belknap, 2016)
“Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all – And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard – And sore must be the storm – That could abash the little Bird That kept so many… Continue reading Emily Dickinson
The Vale of Soul-Making 