Dictionary Poems

If thou must love me, let it be for noughtExcept for love’s sake only. Do not sayI love her for her smile–her look–her wayOf speaking gently,–for a trick of thoughtThat falls in well with mine, and certes broughtA sense of pleasant ease on such a day–For these things in themselves, Beloved, mayBe changed, or change … Continued

Through the straight pass of sufferingThe martyrs even trod,Their feet upon temptation,Their faces upon God. A stately, shriven company;Convulsion playing round,Harmless as streaks of meteorUpon a planet’s bound. Their faith the everlasting troth;Their expectation fair;The needle to the north degreeWades so, through polar air. – THE MARTYRS – Through the straight pass of suffering by … Continued

I want you to knowone thing. You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if I touch near the fire the impalpable ash or the wrinkled body of the log, everything carries me to you, as if everything that exists, … Continued

He put the belt around my life, —I heard the buckle snap,And turned away, imperial,My lifetime folding upDeliberate, as a duke would doA kingdom’s title-deed, —Henceforth a dedicated sort,A member of the cloud. Yet not too far to come at call,And do the little toilsThat make the circuit of the rest,And deal occasional smilesTo lives … Continued

FOR Death,–or ratherFor the things ’twill buy,These put awayLife’s opportunity.The things that Death will buyAre Room,–EscapeFrom Circumstances,And a Name.How gifts of LifeWith Death’s gifts will compare,We know not–For the rates stop Here. – FOR Death,–or rather by Emily Dickinson

When I get to be a composerI’m gonna write me some music aboutDaybreak in AlabamaAnd I’m gonna put the purtiest songs in itRising out of the ground like a swamp mistAnd falling out of heaven like soft dew.I’m gonna put some tall tall trees in itAnd the scent of pine needlesAnd the smell of red … Continued

And a man said, Speak to us of Self-Knowledge. And he answered, saying: Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights. But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart’s knowledge. You would know in words that which you have always know in thought. You would touch with your … Continued

I gave myself to him,And took himself for pay.The solemn contract of a lifeWas ratified this way. The wealth might disappoint,Myself a poorer proveThan this great purchaser suspect,The daily own of Love Depreciate the vision;But, till the merchant buy,Still fable, in the isles of spice,The subtle cargoes lie. At least, ‘t is mutual risk, —Some … Continued

She slept beneath a tree Remembered but by me.I touched her cradle mute;She recognized the foot,Put on her carmine suit, — And see! – THE TULIP – She slept beneath a tree by Emily Dickinson