Our Lives Are Swiss, di Emily Dickinson

Our Lives Are Swiss

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!

225 Jesus! thy Crucifix Enable thee to guess The smaller size! Jesus! thy second face

The spider holds a Silver Ball In unperceived Hands— And dancing softly to Himself His Yarn of Pearl—unwinds— He plies from Nought to Nought—

XXX WE play at paste, Till qualified for pearl, Then drop the paste, And deem ourself a fool.

97 The rainbow never tells me That gust and storm are by, Yet is she more convincing Than Philosophy.

452 The Malay—took the Pearl— Not—I—the Earl— I—feared the Sea—too much Unsanctified—to touch—

430 It would never be Common — more —… Difference — had begun — Many a bitterness — had been — But that old sort — was done —

Publication—is the Auction Of the Mind of Man— Poverty—be justifying For so foul a thing Possibly—but We—would rather

A long, long sleep, a famous sleep That makes no show for dawn By strech of limb or stir of lid,— An independent one. Was ever idleness like this?

XVII SHE rose to his requirement, drop… The playthings of her life To take the honorable work Of woman and of wife.

459 A Tooth upon Our Peace The Peace cannot deface— Then Wherefore be the Tooth? To vitalize the Grace—

547 I’ve seen a Dying Eye Run round and round a Room— In search of Something—as it seem… Then Cloudier become—

It’s like the light,— A fashionless delight It’s like the bee,— A dateless melody. It’s like the woods,

199 I’m “wife”—I’ve finished that— That other state— I’m Czar—I’m “Woman” now— It’s safer so—

936 This Dust, and its Feature— Accredited—Today—Will in a s… Cease to identify— This Mind, and its measure—

530 You cannot put a Fire out— A Thing that can ignite Can go, itself, without a Fan— Upon the slowest Night—