Emily Dickinson

«As Children bid the Guest "Good Night" | And then reluctant turn - | My flowers raise their pretty lips - | Then put their nightgowns on. | As children caper when they wake - | Merry that it is Morn - | My flowers from a hundred cribs | Will peep, and prance again»

«Perhaps you'd like to buy a flower, | But I could never sell - | If you would like to borrow, | Until the Daffodil | Unties her yellow Bonnet | Beneath the village door, | Until the Bees, from Clover rows | Their Hock, and Sherry, draw, | | Why, I will lend until just then, | But not an hour more!»

«Once more, my now bewildered Dove | Bestirs her puzzled wings. | Once more, her mistress, on the deep | Her troubled question flings - | Thrice to the floating casement | The Patriarch's bird returned - | Courage! My brave Columba! | There may yet be Land!»

«Many cross the Rhine | In this cup of mine. | Sip old Frankfort air | From my brown Cigar.»

«In lands I never saw - they say | Immortal Alps look down - | Whose Bonnets touch the firmament - | Whose Sandals touch the town - | Meek at whose everlasting feet | A Myriad Daisy play - | Which, Sir, are you and which am I | Upon an August day»

«Dying! Dying in the night! | Wont somebody bring the light | So I can see which way to go | Into the everlasting snow? | And "Jesus"! Where is Jesus gone? | They said that Jesus - always came - | Perhaps he doesn't know the House - | This way, Jesus, Let him pass! | | Somebody run to the great gate | And see if Dollie's coming! Wait! | I hear her feet upon the stair! | Death wont hurt - now Dollie's here!»

«Keep my pledge. | I was not called - | Death did not notice me. | I bring my Rose - | I plight again - | By every sainted Bee - | By Daisy called from hillside - | By Bobolink from lane - | Blossom and I - | Her oath, and mine - | Will surely come again -.»

«Heart! We will forget him! | You and I - tonight! | You may forget the warmth he gave - | I will forget the light! | When you have done, pray tell me | That I may straight begin! | Haste! Lest while you're lagging | I remember him!»

«I never lost as much but twice - | And that was in the sod. | Twice have I stood a beggar | Before the door of God! | Angels - twice descending | Reimbursed my store - | Burglar! Banker - Father! | I am poor once more.»

«I hav'nt told my garden yet - | Lest that should conquer me. | I hav'nt quite the strength now | To break it to the Bee - | I will not name it in the street | For shops w'd stare at me - | That one so shy - so ignorant | Should have the face to die. | | The hillsides must not know it - | Where I have rambled so - | Nor tell the loving forests | The day that I shall go - | | Nor lisp it at the table - | Nor heedless by the way | Hint that within the Riddle | One will walk today -.»

«So from the mould | Scarlet and Gold | Many a Bulb will rise - | Hidden away, cunningly, | From sagacious eyes. | So from Cocoon | Many a Worm | Leap so Highland gay, | Peasants like me - | Peasants like Thee | Gaze perplexedly.»

«Whether my bark went down at sea - | Whether she met with gales - | Whether to isles enchanted | She bent her docile sails - | By what mystic mooring | She is held today - | This is the errand of the eye | Out upon the Bay.»

«Taken from men - this morning - | Carried by men today - | Met by the Gods with banners - | Who marshalled her away - | One little maid - from playmates - | One little mind from school - | There must be guests in Eden - | All the rooms are full - | | Far - as the East from Even - | Dim - as the border star - | Courtiers quaint, in Kingdoms | Our departed are.»

«If I should cease to bring a Rose | Upon a festal day, | Twill be because beyond the Rose | I have been called away - | If I should cease to take the names | My buds commemorate - | Twill be because Death's finger | Clasps my murmuring lip.»

«A little East of Jordan, | Evangelists record, | A Gymnast and an Angel | Did wrestle long and hard - | Till morning touching mountain - | And Jacob, waxing strong, | The Angel begged permission | To Breakfast - to return - | | Not so, said cunning Jacob! | "I will not let thee go | Except thou bless me" - Stranger! | The which acceded to - | | Light swung the silver fleeces | "Peniel" Hills beyond, | And the bewildered Gymnast | Found he had worsted God!»

«Like her the Saints retire, | In their Chapeaux of fire, | Martial as she! | Like her the Evenings steal | Purple and Cochineal | After the Day! | | "Departed" - both - they say! | I. e., gathered away, | Not found, | | Argues the Aster still - | Reasons the Daffodil | Profound!»

«Papa above! | Regard a Mouse | O'er powered by the Cat! | Reserve within thy kingdom | A "Mansion" for the Rat! | Snug in seraphic Cupboards | To nibble all the day, | While unsuspecting Cycles | Wheel solemnly away.»

«"Sown in dishonor"! | Ah! Indeed! | May this "dishonor" be? | If I were half so fine myself | I'd notice nobody! | "Sown in corruption"! | Not so fast! | Apostle is askew! | Corinthians 1. 15. narrates | A Circumstance or two!»

«If pain for peace prepares | Lo, what "Augustan" years | Our feet await! | If springs from winter rise | Can the Anemones | Be reckoned up? | | If night stands first - then noon | To gird us for the sun - | What gaze! | | When from a thousand skies | On our developed eyes | Noons blaze!»

«Low at my problem bending, | Another problem comes - | Larger than mine - serener - | Involving statelier sums. | I check my busy pencil - | My figures file away - | Wherefore, my baffled fingers | Thy perplexity?»