Emily Dickinson

Just so — Jesus — raps —
He — doesn’t weary —
Last — at the Knocker —
And first — at the Bell.
Then — on divinest tiptoe — standing —
Might He but spy the lady’s soul —
When He — retires —
Chilled — or weary —
It will be ample time for — me —
Patient — upon the steps — until then —
Hears! I am knocking — low at thee.

Kill your Balm — and its Odors bless you —
Bare your Jessamine — to the storm —
And she will fling her maddest perfume —
Haply — your Summer night to Charm —

Stab the Bird — that built in your bosom —
Oh, could you catch her last Refrain —
Bubble! “forgive” — “Some better” — Bubble!
“Carol for Him — when I am gone”!

Knock with tremor —
These are Caesars —
Should they be at Home
Flee as if you trod unthinking
On the Foot of Doom —

These receded to accostal
Centuries ago —
Should they rend you with “How are you”
What have you to show?
-Emily Dickinson

Knows how to forget!
But could It teach it?
Easiest of Arts, they say
When one learn how

Dull Hearts have died
In the Acquisition
Sacrificed for Science
Is common, though, now —

I went to School
But was not wiser
Globe did not teach it
Nor Logarithm Show

“How to forget”!
Say — some — Philosopher!
Ah, to be erudite
Enough to know!

Is it in a Book?
So, I could buy it —
Is it like a Planet?
Telescopes would know —

If it be invention
It

Lad of Athens, faithful be
To Thyself,
And Mystery –
All the rest is Perjury –
-Emily Dickinson

Lain in Nature — so suffice us
The enchantless Pod
When we advertise existence
For the missing Seed —

Maddest Heart that God created
Cannot move a sod
Pasted by the simple summer
On the Longed for Dead
-Emily Dickinson

Lay this Laurel on the One
Too intrinsic for Renown —
Laurel — veil your deathless tree —
Him you chasten, that is He!
-Emily Dickinson

“Lethe” in my flower,
Of which they who drink
In the fadeless orchards
Hear the bobolink!

Merely flake or petal
As the Eye beholds
Jupiter! my father!
I perceive the rose!
-Emily Dickinson

Least Bee that brew —
A Honey’s Weight
Content Her smallest fraction help
The Amber Quantity —
-Emily Dickinson

Least Rivers — docile to some sea.
My Caspian — thee.
-Emily Dickinson

Left in immortal Youth
On that low Plain
That hath nor Retrospection
Nor Again —
Ransomed from years —
Sequestered from Decay
Canceled like Dawn
In comprehensive Day —
-Emily Dickinson

Lest any doubt that we are glad that they were born Today
Whose having lived is held by us in noble Holiday
Without the date, like Consciousness or Immortality –
-Emily Dickinson

Lest they should come — is all my fear
When sweet incarcerated here
-Emily Dickinson

Lest this be Heaven indeed
An Obstacle is given
That always gauges a Degree
Between Ourself and Heaven.
-Emily Dickinson

Let Us play Yesterday —
I — the Girl at school —
You — and Eternity — the
Untold Tale —

Easing my famine
At my Lexicon —
Logarithm — had I — for Drink —
‘Twas a dry Wine —

Somewhat different — must be —
Dreams tint the Sleep —
Cunning Reds of Morning
Make the Blind — leap —

Still at the Egg-life —
Chafing the Shell —
When you troubled the Ellipse —
And the Bird fell —

Manacles be dim

Let down the Bars, Oh Death —
The tired Flocks come in
Whose bleating ceases to repeat
Whose wandering is done —

Thine is the stillest night
Thine the securest Fold
Too near Thou art for seeking Thee
Too tender, to be told.
-Emily Dickinson

Let me not mar that perfect Dream
By an Auroral stain
But so adjust my daily Night
That it will come again.

Not when we know, the Power accosts —
The Garment of Surprise
Was all our timid Mother wore
At Home — in Paradise.
-Emily Dickinson

Let me not thirst with this Hock at my Lip,
Nor beg, with Domains in my Pocket —
-Emily Dickinson

Let my first Knowing be of thee
With morning’s warming Light –
And my first Fearing, lest Unknowns
Engulf thee in the night –
-Emily Dickinson

Life — is what we make of it —
Death — we do not know —
Christ’s acquaintance with Him
Justify Him — though —

He — would trust no stranger —
Other — could betray —
Just His own endorsement —
That — sufficeth Me —

All the other Distance
He hath traversed first —
No New Mile remaineth —
Far as Paradise —

His sure foot preceding —
Tender Pioneer —
Base must be the Coward
Dare not venture — now —

Life, and Death, and Giants —
Such as These — are still —
Minor — Apparatus — Hopper of the Mill —
Beetle at the Candle —
Or a Fife’s Fame —
Maintain — by Accident that they proclaim —
-Emily Dickinson

Lift it — with the Feathers
Not alone we fly —
Launch it — the aquatic
Not the only sea —
Advocate the Azure
To the lower Eyes —
He has obligation
Who has Paradise —
-Emily Dickinson

Light is sufficient to itself —
If Others want to see
It can be had on Window Panes
Some Hours in the Day.

But not for Compensation —
It holds as large a Glow
To Squirrel in the Himmaleh
Precisely, as to you.
-Emily Dickinson

Lightly stepped a yellow star
To its lofty place —
Loosed the Moon her silver hat
From her lustral Face —
All of Evening softly lit
As an Astral Hall —
Father, I observed to Heaven,
You are punctual.
-Emily Dickinson

Like Brooms of Steel
The Snow and Wind
Had swept the Winter Street —
The House was hooked
The Sun sent out
Faint Deputies of Heat —
Where rode the Bird
The Silence tied
His ample — plodding Steed
The Apple in the Cellar snug
Was all the one that played.
-Emily Dickinson