Poems by Emily Dickinson Part 41

by EMILY d.i.c.kINSON

Third Series

Edited by

MABEL LOOMIS TODD

It's all I have to bring to-day, This, and my heart beside, This, and my heart, and all the fields, And all the meadows wide.

Be sure you count, should I forget, -- Some one the sum could tell, -- This, and my heart, and all the bees Which in the clover dwell.

PREFACE.

The intellectual activity of Emily d.i.c.kinson was so great that a large and characteristic choice is still possible among her literary material, and this third volume of her verses is put forth in response to the repeated wish of the admirers of her peculiar genius. Much of Emily d.i.c.kinson's prose was rhythmic, --even rhymed, though frequently not set apart in lines.

Also many verses, written as such, were sent to friends in letters; these were published in 1894, in the volumes of her _Letters_. It has not been necessary, however, to include them in this Series, and all have been omitted, except three or four exceptionally strong ones, as "A Book," and "With Flowers."

There is internal evidence that many of the poems were simply spontaneous flashes of insight, apparently unrelated to outward circ.u.mstance. Others, however, had an obvious personal origin; for example, the verses "I had a Guinea golden," which seem to have been sent to some friend travelling in Europe, as a dainty reminder of letter-writing delinquencies. The surroundings in which any of Emily d.i.c.kinson's verses are known to have been written usually serve to explain them clearly; but in general the present volume is full of thoughts needing no interpretation to those who apprehend this scintillating spirit.

M. L. T.

AMHERST, _October_, 1896.

I. LIFE.

I.

REAL RICHES.

'T is little I could care for pearls Who own the ample sea; Or brooches, when the Emperor With rubies pelteth me;

Or gold, who am the Prince of Mines; Or diamonds, when I see A diadem to fit a dome Continual crowning me.

II.

SUPERIORITY TO FATE.

Superiority to fate Is difficult to learn.

'T is not conferred by any, But possible to earn

A pittance at a time, Until, to her surprise, The soul with strict economy Subsists till Paradise.

III.

HOPE.

Hope is a subtle glutton; He feeds upon the fair; And yet, inspected closely, What abstinence is there!

His is the halcyon table That never seats but one, And whatsoever is consumed The same amounts remain.

IV.

FORBIDDEN FRUIT.

I.

Forbidden fruit a flavor has That lawful orchards mocks; How luscious lies the pea within The pod that Duty locks!

V.

FORBIDDEN FRUIT.

II.

Heaven is what I cannot reach!

The apple on the tree, Provided it do hopeless hang, That 'heaven' is, to me.

The color on the cruising cloud, The interdicted ground Behind the hill, the house behind, -- There Paradise is found!