Selected Poems by Emily Dickinson
67
Success is counted sweetest Like one in danger, Cautious,
By those who ne'er succeed. I offered him a Crumb
To comprehend a nectar And he unrolled his feathers
Requires sorest need. And rowed him softer home --
Not one of all the purple Host Than Oars divide the Ocean,
Who took the Flag today Too silver for a seam --
Can tell the definition Or Butterflies, off Banks of Noon
So clear of Victory Leap, plashless as they swim.
As he defeated -- dying -- 341
On whose forbidden ear After great pain, a formal feeling comes --
The distant strains of triumph The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs --
Burst agonized and clear! The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore,
And Yesterday, or Centuries before?
214
I taste a liquor never brewed – The Feet, mechanical, go round --
From Tankards scooped in Pearl – Of Ground, or Air, or Ought --
Not all the Frankfort Berries A Wooden way
Yield such an Alcohol! Regardless grown,
A Quartz contentment, like a stone --
Inebriate of air – am I –
And Debauchee of Dew – This is the Hour of Lead --
Reeling – thro' endless summer days – Remembered, if outlived,
From inns of molten Blue – As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow --
First -- Chill -- then Stupor -- then the letting go –
When "Landlords" turn the drunken Bee
Out of the Foxglove's door – 712
When Butterflies – renounce their "drams" – Because I could not stop for Death –
I shall but drink the more! He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
Till Seraphs swing their snowy Hats – And Immortality.
And Saints – to windows run –
To see the Tippler We slowly drove – He knew no haste
Leaning against the – Sun! And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
303 For His Civility –
The Soul selects her own Society --
Then -- shuts the Door -- We passed the School, where Children strove
To her divine Majority -- At Recess – in the Ring –
Present no more -- We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –
We passed the Setting Sun –
Unmoved -- she notes the Chariots -- pausing --
At her low Gate -- Or rather – He passed us –
Unmoved -- an Emperor be kneeling The Dews drew quivering and chill –
Upon her Mat -- For only Gossamer, my Gown –
My Tippet – only Tulle –
I've known her -- from an ample nation --
Choose One -- We paused before a House that seemed
Then -- close the Valves of her attention -- A Swelling of the Ground –
Like Stone – The Roof was scarcely visible –
The Cornice – in the Ground –
328 Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
A Bird came down the Walk -- Feels shorter than the Day
He did not know I saw -- I first surmised the Horses' Heads
He bit an Angleworm in halves Were toward Eternity –
And ate the fellow, raw,
1624
And then he drank a Dew Apparently with no surprise
From a convenient Grass -- To any happy Flower
And then hopped sidewise to the Wall The Frost beheads it at its play --
To let a Beetle pass -- In accidental power --
The blonde Assassin passes on --
He glanced with rapid eyes The Sun proceeds unmoved
That hurried all around -- To measure off another Day
They looked like frightened Beads, I thought -- For an Approving God.
He stirred his Velvet Head
