Whether my Bark Went Down at Sea, di Emily Dickinson

Whether my Bark Went Down at Sea

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.

A toad can die of light! Death is the common right Of toads and men,— Of earl and midge The privilege.

Epigram THIS is my letter to the world, That never wrote to me,— The simple news that Nature told, With tender majesty.

941 The Lady feeds Her little Bird At rarer intervals— The little Bird would not dissent But meekly recognize

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

347 When Night is almost done— And Sunrise grows so near That we can touch the Spaces— It’s time to smooth the Hair—

Success is counted sweetest By those who ne’er succeed. To comprehend a nectar Requires sorest need. Not one of all the purple Host

413 I never felt at Home–Below– And in the Handsome Skies I shall not feel at Home–I know– I don’t like Paradise–

Elysium is as far as to The very nearest Room If in that Room a Friend await Felicity or Doom— What fortitude the Soul contains

312 Her—“last Poems”— Poets—ended— Silver—perished—with her Tongue— Not on Record—bubbled other,

Could Hope inspect her Basis Her Craft were done - Has a fictitious Charter Or it has none - Balked in the vastest instance

733 The Spirit is the Conscious Ear. We actually Hear When We inspect—that’s audible— That is admitted—Here—

Not any sunny tone From any fervent zone Find entrance there - Better a grave of Balm Toward human nature’s home -

854 Banish Air from Air— Divide Light if you dare— They’ll meet While Cubes in a Drop

240 Ah, Moon—and Star! You are very far— But were no one Farther than you—

The Hills erect their Purple Hea… The Rivers lean to see Yet Man has not of all the Throng A Curiosity.