A Pang is more conspicuous in Spring
In contrast with the things that sing
Not Birds entirely – but Minds –
And Winds – Minute Effulgencies
When what they sung for is undone
Who cares about a Blue Bird's Tune –
Why, Resurrection had to wait
Till they had moved a Stone –

Emily Dickinson, ca. 1881. Amherst College Archives & Special Collections, via The Morgan Library.

i dwell in possibility

I dwell in Possibility –

A fairer House than Prose –

More numerous of Windows –

Superior – for Doors –

Of Chambers as the Cedars –

Impregnable of eye –

And for an everlasting Roof

The Gambrels of the Sky –

Of Visitors – the fairest –

For Occupation – This –

The spreading wide my narrow Hands

To gather Paradise –

 

-- Emily Dickinson

saturday poem

To flee from memory
Had we the Wings
Many would fly
Inured to slower things
Birds with surprise
Would scan the cowering Van
Of men escaping
From the mind of man

 

Emily Dickinson

On a Columnar Self

On a Columnar Self—
How ample to rely In Tumult—
or Extremity—
How good the Certainty That Lever cannot pry—
 And Wedge cannot divide Conviction—
That Granitic Base—
Though none be on our side—
Suffice Us—
 for a Crowd—
 Ourself—
and Rectitude—
And that Assembly—
not far off From furthest Spirit—God—

-- Emily Dickinson.

Found via Esther Gokhale musing on the posture of Emily Dickinson and a young mother from Burkina Faso.

One need not be a Chamber -- to be Haunted --

One need not be a House -- 

The Brain has Corridors -- surpassing 

Material Place -- 

Far safer, of a Midnight Meeting 

External Ghost 

Than its interior Confronting -- 

That Cooler Host. 

Far safer, through an Abbey gallop, 

The Stones a'chase -- 

Than Unarmed, one's a'self encounter -- 

In lonesome Place -- 

Ourself behind ourself, concealed -- 

Should startle most -- 

Assassin hid in our Apartment 

Be Horror's least. 

The Body -- borrows a Revolver -- 

He bolts the Door -- 

O'erlooking a superior spectre -- 

Or More --

--Emily Dickinson.

 

If you are a fan of Emily Dickinson's work then check out the Emily Dickinson Online Archive (Amazing!) and this beautiful book The Gorgeous Nothings , which brings together pieces of poetry written on scraps that look like the wings of paper birds.

Strength.

"If your Nerve, deny you
go above your Nerve."

-- Emily Dickinson

If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain.
If I can ease one life the aching, or cool one pain, or help one
fainting robin unto his nest again I shall not live in vain.
~ Emily Dickinson