Time poems
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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 --
Color -- Caste -- Denomination --
© Emily Dickinson
Color -- Caste -- Denomination --
These -- are Time's Affair --
Death's diviner Classifying
Does not know they are --
Better -- than Music! For I -- who heard it --
© Emily Dickinson
Better -- than Music! For I -- who heard it --
I was used -- to the Birds -- before --
This -- was different -- 'Twas Translation --
Of all tunes I knew -- and more --
Before He comes we weigh the Time!
© Emily Dickinson
Before He comes we weigh the Time!
'Tis Heavy and 'tis Light.
When He depart, an Emptiness
Is the prevailing Freight.
As far from pity, as complaint
© Emily Dickinson
As far from pity, as complaint --
As cool to speech -- as stone --
As numb to Revelation
As if my Trade were Bone --
An antiquated Grace
© Emily Dickinson
An antiquated Grace
Becomes that cherished Face
As well as prime
Enjoining us to part
We and our pouting Heart
Good friends with time
Alone and in a Circumstance
© Emily Dickinson
Alone and in a Circumstance
Reluctant to be told
A spider on my reticence
Assiduously crawled
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 --
A precious -- mouldering pleasure -- 'tis
© Emily Dickinson
A precious -- mouldering pleasure -- 'tis --
To meet an Antique Book --
In just the Dress his Century wore --
A privilege -- I think --
A face devoid of love or grace,
© Emily Dickinson
A face devoid of love or grace,
A hateful, hard, successful face,
A face with which a stone
Would feel as thoroughly at ease
As were they old acquaintances --
First time together thrown.
'Twas later when the summer went
© Emily Dickinson
'Twas later when the summer went
Than when the Cricket came --
And yet we knew that gentle Clock
Meant nought but Going Home --
'Twas Crisis -- All the length had passed --
© Emily Dickinson
'Twas Crisis -- All the length had passed --
That dull -- benumbing time
There is in Fever or Event --
And now the Chance had come --
'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
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!
Volcanoes be in Sicily
© Emily Dickinson
Volcanoes be in Sicily
And South America
I judge from my Geography --
Volcanos nearer here
Uncertain lease -- develops lustre
© Emily Dickinson
Uncertain lease -- develops lustre
On Time
Uncertain Grasp, appreciation
Of Sum --
Too happy Time dissolves itself
© Emily Dickinson
Too happy Time dissolves itself
And leaves no remnant by --
'Tis Anguish not a Feather hath
Or too much weight to fly --
To die -- takes just a little while
© Emily Dickinson
To die -- takes just a little while --
They say it doesn't hurt --
It's only fainter -- by degrees --
And then -- it's out of sight --
There came a Day at Summer's full
© Emily Dickinson
There came a Day at Summer's full,
Entirely for me --
I thought that such were for the Saints,
Where Resurrections -- be --
The last Night that She lived
© Emily Dickinson
The last Night that She lived
It was a Common Night
Except the Dying -- this to Us
Made Nature different
