April 19, 2004

honey from the clock

IF YOU WERE COMING IN THE FALL
:: 511 ::

If you were coming in the Fall,
I'd brush the Summer by
With half a smile, and half a spurn,
As Housewives do, a Fly.

If I could see you in a year,
I'd wind the months in balls—
And put them each in separate Drawers,
For fear the numbers fuse—

If only Centuries, delayed,
I'd count them on my Hand,
Subtracting, till my fingers dropped
Into Van Dieman's Land.

If certain, when this life was out—
That yours and mine, should be
I'd toss it yonder, like a Rind,
And take Eternity—

But, now, uncertain of the length
Of this, that is between,
It goads me, like the Goblin Bee—
That will not state—its sting.

~ Emily Dickinson

Posted by joydriven at April 19, 2004 11:29 PM | TrackBack
Comments

One of my all-time favorite Emily Dickinson poems.

Posted by: Bet at April 20, 2004 06:45 AM

Not one of my favorite Emily Dickinson poems. I understand it far too well.

Posted by: karyn at April 20, 2004 04:47 PM
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