Life poems
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'Twould ease -- a Butterfly --
© Emily Dickinson
'Twould ease -- a Butterfly --
Elate -- a Bee --
Thou'rt neither --
Neither -- thy capacity --
'Twas fighting for his Life he was --
© Emily Dickinson
'Twas fighting for his Life he was --
That sort accomplish well --
The Ordnance of Vitality
Is frugal of its Ball.
'Twas a long Parting -- but the time
© Emily Dickinson
'Twas a long Parting -- but the time
For Interview -- had Come --
Before the Judgment Seat of God --
The last -- and second time
"I want" -- it pleaded -- All its life --
© Emily Dickinson
"I want" -- it pleaded -- All its life --
I want -- was chief it said
When Skill entreated it -- the last --
And when so newly dead --
Went up a year this evening!
© Emily Dickinson
Went up a year this evening!
I recollect it well!
Amid no bells nor bravoes
The bystanders will tell!
This Chasm, Sweet, upon my life
© Emily Dickinson
This Chasm, Sweet, upon my life
I mention it to you,
When Sunrise through a fissure drop
The Day must follow too.
The Whole of it came not at once --
© Emily Dickinson
The Whole of it came not at once --
'Twas Murder by degrees --
A Thrust -- and then for Life a chance --
The Bliss to cauterize --
The Life that tied too tight escapes
© Emily Dickinson
The Life that tied too tight escapes
Will ever after run
With a prudential look behind
And spectres of the Rein --
The first Day that I was a Life
© Emily Dickinson
The first Day that I was a Life
I recollect it -- How still --
That last Day that I was a Life
I recollect it -- as well --
That I did always love
© Emily Dickinson
That I did always love
I bring thee Proof
That till I loved
I never lived -- Enough --
One Life of so much Consequence!
© Emily Dickinson
One Life of so much Consequence!
Yet I -- for it -- would pay --
My Soul's entire income --
In ceaseless -- salary --
Of Course -- I prayed
© Emily Dickinson
Of Course -- I prayed --
And did God Care?
He cared as much as on the Air
A Bird -- had stamped her foot --
No Life can pompless pass away --
© Emily Dickinson
No Life can pompless pass away --
The lowliest career
To the same Pageant wends its way
As that exalted here --
Musicians wrestle everywhere
© Emily Dickinson
Musicians wrestle everywhere --
All day -- among the crowded air
I hear the silver strife --
And -- walking -- long before the morn --
Such transport breaks upon the town
I think it that "New Life"!
Me prove it now -- Whoever doubt
© Emily Dickinson
Me prove it now -- Whoever doubt
Me stop to prove it -- now --
Make haste -- the Scruple! Death be scant
For Opportunity --
It feels a shame to be Alive
© Emily Dickinson
It feels a shame to be Alive --
When Men so brave -- are dead --
One envies the Distinguished Dust --
Permitted -- such a Head --
I Years had been from Home
© Emily Dickinson
I Years had been from Home
And now before the Door
I dared not enter, lest a Face
I never saw before
I know that He exists.
© Emily Dickinson
I know that He exists.
Somewhere -- in Silence --
He has hid his rare life
From our gross eyes.
I have no Life but this --
© Emily Dickinson
I have no Life but this --
To lead it here --
Nor any Death -- but lest
Dispelled from there --
I gave myself to Him --
© Emily Dickinson
I gave myself to Him --
And took Himself, for Pay,
The solemn contract of a Life
Was ratified, this way --
