Emily Dickinson Poems

A collection of select Emily Dickinson famous poems that were written by Emily Dickinson or written about the poet by other famous poets. PoetrySoup is a comprehensive educational resource of the greatest poems and poets on history.

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The stem of a departed Flower

by Emily Dickinson
 The stem of a departed Flower
Has still a silent rank.
The Bearer from an Emerald Court
Of a Despatch of Pink....Read more of this...

I felt a Cleaving in my Mind --

by Emily Dickinson
 I felt a Cleaving in my Mind --
As if my Brain had split --
I tried to match it -- Seam by Seam --
But could not make it fit.

The thought behind, I strove to join
Unto the thought before --
But Sequence ravelled out of Sound
Like Balls -- upon a Floor....Read more of this...

The lonesome for they know not What

by Emily Dickinson
 The lonesome for they know not What --
The Eastern Exiles -- be --
Who strayed beyond the Amber line
Some madder Holiday --

And ever since -- the purple Moat
They strive to climb -- in vain --
As Birds -- that tumble from the clouds
Do fumble at the strain --

The Blessed Ether -- taught them --
Some Transatlantic Morn --
When Heaven -- was too...Read more of this...

Twas my one Glory --

by Emily Dickinson
 'Twas my one Glory --
Let it be
Remembered
I was owned of Thee --...Read more of this...

The Definition of Beauty is

by Emily Dickinson
 The Definition of Beauty is
That Definition is none --
Of Heaven, easing Analysis,
Since Heaven and He are one....Read more of this...

Had we known the Ton she bore

by Emily Dickinson
 Had we known the Ton she bore
We had helped the terror
But she straighter walked for Freight
So be hers the error --...Read more of this...

She hideth Her the last --

by Emily Dickinson
 She hideth Her the last --
And is the first, to rise --
Her Night doth hardly recompense
The Closing of Her eyes --

She doth Her Purple Work --
And putteth Her away
In low Apartments in the Sod -
As worthily as We.

To imitate her life
As impotent would be
As make of Our imperfect Mints,
The Julep -- of the Bee --...Read more of this...

Is it dead -- Find it

by Emily Dickinson
 Is it dead -- Find it --
Out of sound -- Out of sight --
"Happy"? Which is wiser --
You, or the Wind?
"Conscious"? Won't you ask that --
Of the low Ground?

"Homesick"? Many met it --
Even through them -- This
Cannot testify --
Themself -- as dumb --...Read more of this...

I shall keep singing!

by Emily Dickinson
 I shall keep singing!
Birds will pass me
On their way to Yellower Climes --
Each -- with a Robin's expectation --
I -- with my Redbreast --
And my Rhymes --

Late -- when I take my place in summer --
But -- I shall bring a fuller tune --
Vespers -- are sweeter than Matins -- Signor --
Morning -- only the seed of Noon --...Read more of this...

Meeting by Accident

by Emily Dickinson
 Meeting by Accident,
We hovered by design --
As often as a Century
An error so divine
Is ratified by Destiny,
But Destiny is old
And economical of Bliss
As Midas is of Gold --...Read more of this...

Me prove it now -- Whoever doubt

by Emily Dickinson
 Me prove it now -- Whoever doubt
Me stop to prove it -- now --
Make haste -- the Scruple! Death be scant
For Opportunity --

The River reaches to my feet --
As yet -- My Heart be dry --
Oh Lover -- Life could not convince --
Might Death -- enable Thee --

The River reaches to My Breast --
Still -- still -- My Hands...Read more of this...

Nature rarer uses Yellow

by Emily Dickinson
 Nature rarer uses Yellow
Than another Hue.
Saves she all of that for Sunsets
Prodigal of Blue

Spending Scarlet, like a Woman
Yellow she affords
Only scantly and selectly
Like a Lover's Words....Read more of this...

How much of Source escapes with thee --

by Emily Dickinson
 How much of Source escapes with thee --
How chief thy sessions be --
For thou hast borne a universe
Entirely away....Read more of this...

Peril as a Possesssion

by Emily Dickinson
 Peril as a Possesssion
'Tis Good to hear
Danger disintegrates Satiety
There's Basis there --
Begets an awe
That searches Human Nature's creases
As clean as Fire....Read more of this...

The Day undressed -- Herself --

by Emily Dickinson
 The Day undressed -- Herself --
Her Garter -- was of Gold --
Her Petticoat -- of Purple plain --
Her Dimities -- as old

Exactly -- as the World --
And yet the newest Star --
Enrolled upon the Hemisphere
Be wrinkled -- much as Her --

Too near to God -- to pray --
Too near to Heaven -- to fear --
The Lady of the Occident
Retired...Read more of this...

The Morning after Woe

by Emily Dickinson
 The Morning after Woe --
'Tis frequently the Way --
Surpasses all that rose before --
For utter Jubilee --

As Nature did not care --
And piled her Blossoms on --
And further to parade a Joy
Her Victim stared upon --

The Birds declaim their Tunes --
Pronouncing every word
Like Hammers -- Did they know they fell
Like Litanies of Lead --

On here and there -- a...Read more of this...

Endow the Living -- with the Tears --

by Emily Dickinson
 Endow the Living -- with the Tears --
You squander on the Dead,
And They were Men and Women -- now,
Around Your Fireside --

Instead of Passive Creatures,
Denied the Cherishing
Till They -- the Cherishing deny --
With Death's Ethereal Scron --...Read more of this...

Lest this be Heaven indeed

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

Our lives are Swiss

by Emily Dickinson
 Our lives are Swiss --
So still -- so Cool --
Till some odd afternoon
The Alps neglect their Curtains
And we look farther on!

Italy stands the other side!
While like a guard between --
The solemn Alps --
The siren Alps
Forever intervene!...Read more of this...

The Notice that is called the Spring

by Emily Dickinson
 The Notice that is called the Spring
Is but a month from here --
Put up my Heart thy Hoary work
And take a Rosy Chair.

Not any House the Flowers keep --
The Birds enamor Care --
Our salary the longest Day
Is nothing but a Bier....Read more of this...

How Human Nature dotes

by Emily Dickinson
 How Human Nature dotes
On what it can't detect.
The moment that a Plot is plumbed
Prospective is extinct --

Prospective is the friend
Reserved for us to know
When Constancy is clarified
Of Curiosity --

Of subjects that resist
Redoubtablest is this
Where go we --
Go we anywhere
Creation after this?...Read more of this...

Presentiment -- is that long Shadow -- on the Lawn --

by Emily Dickinson
 Presentiment -- is that long Shadow -- on the Lawn --
Indicatives that Suns go down --

The Notice to the startled Grass
That Darkness -- is about to pass --...Read more of this...

By a flower -- By a letter

by Emily Dickinson
 By a flower -- By a letter --
By a nimble love --
If I weld the Rivet faster --
Final fast -- above --

Never mind my breathless Anvil!
Never mind Repose!
Never mind the sooty faces
Tugging at the Forge!...Read more of this...

The event was directly behind Him

by Emily Dickinson
 The event was directly behind Him
Yet He did not guess
Fitted itself to Himself like a Robe
Relished His ignorance.
Motioned itself to drill
Loaded and Levelled
And let His Flesh
Centuries from His soul....Read more of this...

When I count the seeds

by Emily Dickinson
 When I count the seeds
That are sown beneath,
To bloom so, bye and bye --

When I con the people
Lain so low,
To be received as high --

When I believe the garden
Mortal shall not see --
Pick by faith its blossom
And avoid its Bee,
I can spare this summer, unreluctantly....Read more of this...

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