Tried always and Condemned by thee

Tried always and Condemned by thee
Permit me this reprieve
That dying I may earn the look
For which I cease to live —

Emily is accused of witchcraft. She will die of shock at her look.

You have interrogated incessantly and condemned me.
Permit me reprieve so that
I may get the hideous look
For which I cease to breathe —

Count not that far that can be had,

Count not that far that can be had,
Though sunset lie between —
Nor that adjacent, that beside,
Is further than the sun.

The sunset is an obstacle to measure the distance of neighboring stars. There may be another star behind the sun.

Don’t measure how far two neighbor stars be,
Though the sunset lie between them—
Nor the adfacent star is
Further than the sun.

A Planted Life - diversified

A Planted Life - diversified
With Gold and Silver Pain
To prove the presence of the Ore
In Particles - ‘tis when

A Value struggle - it exist -
A Power - will proclaim
Although Annihilation pile
Whole chaoses on Him –

Emily talks herself that struggle is valuable for prospector’s life. He doesn’t mind the result.

A Planted Life, diversified
With pain for gold or Silver
To prove the presence of the Ore
In Particles– a discoverer

Will proclaim that ‘tis when
You struggle a value, it exist
Although destruction pile
Whole confusion on Him
-

I know some lonely Houses off the Road

I know some lonely Houses off the Road
A Robber’d like the look of —
Wooden barred,
And Windows hanging low,
Inviting to —
A Portico,
Where two could creep —
One — hand the Tools —
The other peep —
To make sure All’s Asleep —
Old fashioned eyes —
Not easy to surprise!

How orderly the Kitchen’d look, by night,
With just a Clock —
But they could gag the Tick —
And Mice won’t bark —
And so the Walls — don’t tell —
None — will —

A pair of Spectacles ajar just stir —
An Almanac’s aware —
Was it the Mat — winked,
Or a Nervous Star?
The Moon — slides down the stair,
To see who’s there!

There’s plunder — where —
Tankard, or Spoon —
Earring — or Stone —
A Watch — Some Ancient Brooch
To match the grandmamma —
Staid sleeping — there —

Day — rattles — too
Stealth’s — slow —
The Sun has got as far
As the third Sycamore —
Screams Chanticleer
“Who’s there”?

And Echoes — Trains away,
Sneer — “Where”!
While the old Couple, just astir,
Fancy the Sunrise — left the door ajar!

Emily describes robbers’ stealing into Elderly couple’s house.

I know little lonely Houses off the Road
Robbers would like the look of —
Wooden barred,
And Windows hanging low,
Inviting to —
A Portico,
Where two could steal —
One could hand the Tools —
The other could peep —
To make sure all is asleep —
Old aged eyes —
It is not easy to surprise!

How orderly the Kitchen could look, by night,
With just a Clock orderly—
But they could stop the Tick —
And Mice won’t bark —
And so the walls don’t tell —
None will tell—

A pair of visible thing partly open —
A calendar is awake —
Was it the floor cover
Or did a nervous star wink?
The Moon slides down the stair,
To see who’s there!

There’s plunder — where —
Drinking cup, or spoon —
Earring or precious stone —
A Watch and rather ancient brooch
To match the grandmamma —
She is sleeping soundly there —

Day wakes up too
Stealth is slow —
The Sun has got as far
As the third Sycamore —
A chanticleer screams
“Who’s there”?

It echoes and trains away,
they sneer — “Where”!
While the old Couple, just awake,
Fancy the Sunrise left the door ajar!

The Soul should always stand ajar

The Soul should always stand ajar
That if the Heaven inquire
He will not be obliged to wait
Or shy of troubling Her

Depart, before the Host have slid
The Bolt unto the Door ―
To search for the accomplished Guest,
Her Visitor, no more ―

The soul must be prepared for the Guest from Heaven.

The soul should always stand ajar
Otherwise if God visit
He must use the time to wait
Or mind troubling her depart

Before the Host have slid
The Bolt unto the Door ―
When she search for the perfect Guest,
Her Visitor is found no more ―

Remorse is memory awake,

Remorse is memory awake,
Her companies astir,—
A presence of departed acts
At window and at door.

It’s past set down before the soul,
And lighted with a match,
Perusal to facilitate
Of its condensed despatch.

Remorse is cureless,—the disease
Not even God can heal;
For ’t is his institution,—
The complement of hell.

Regret is incurable! It is his institution and the complement of Hell.

Regret is active memory,
Her carriers are all disturbed,—
We sense a presence of lost acts
At window and at door.

Its past is posted before the soul,
And lighted with a match,
To facilitate her inspection
Of its condensed document.

Regret is cureless disease
That even God cannot heal;
For it is his institution,—
The complement of hell.

The Body grows without —

The Body grows without —
The more convenient way —
That if the Spirit — like to hide
Its Temple stands, alway,

Ajar — secure — inviting —
It never did betray
The Soul that asked its shelter
In solemn honesty

The bigger body can afford to welcome the soul who wants to shelter!

The body grows outward—
It’s convenient for us —
If the spirit like to hide
Its temple stands, alway,

Ajar — secure — inviting —
It did never betray
The Soul that asked its shelter
In serious honesty

A Mine there is no Man would own

A Mine there is no Man would own

But must it be conferred,

Demeaning by exclusive wealth

A Universe beside ―

Potosi never to be spent

But hoarded in the mind

What Misers wring their hands tonight

For Indies in the Ground!

“Potosi” is known for rich silver mines in Spanish colonial days.  It was actually exhausted in 19th century. But “Potosi” is still hoarded in the mind.

Nobody would own that mine

But it must be transferred,

Demeaning neighboring Nature

By exclusive wealth ―

Potosi will never be exhausted

But what Misers grip tonight

For West Indies in the Ground

Is hoarded in the mind!

* Indies: West Indies

Talk with Prudence to a Beggar

Talk with Prudence to a Beggar
Of “Potosi”, and the mines!
Reverently, to the Hungry
Of your viands, and your wines!

Cautious, hint to any Captive
You have passed enfranchized feet!
Anecdotes of air in Dungeons
Have sometimes proved deadly sweet!

Talk carefully to the poor, the hungry men, the captive! The story should hurt them.

Talk carefully to a Beggar
About “Potosi”, and the mines!
Talk respectfully, to the Hungry
About your tasty dish, and your wines!

Hint cautiously to any Captive
You have passed unfettered feet!
Stories of fresh air have sometimes 
Proved deadly sweet in dungeons!

“Potosi” is well known for the prosperity of rich mines: a symbol of wealth and greedt.

Morning – is the place for Dew –

Morning – is the place for Dew – 


Morning – is the place for Dew – 


Corn – is made at Noon – 


After dinner light – for flowers – 


Dukes – for setting sun!

Emily Dickinson

Nature takes advantage of times; morning, midday, afternoon, evening.

Morning is good for dew drops– 


Midday is good for corn growth – 


Flowers bloom in the afternoon – 


Eagle owls inform us of the evening!

*After dinner: afternoon (dinner was eaten at noon in her time)

*duke: eagle owl

I have a Bird in spring

I have a Bird in spring 
Which for myself doth sing – 
The spring decoys. 
And as the summer nears – 
And as the Rose appears, 
Robin is gone.

Yet do I not repine 
Knowing that Bird of mine 
Though flown – 
Leaneth beyond the sea 
Melody new for me 
And will return.

Fast is a safer hand 
Held in a truer Land 
Are mine – 
And though they now depart, 
Tell I my doubting heart 
They’re thine.

In a serener Bright, 
In a more golden light 
I see 
Each little doubt and fear, 
Each little discord here 
Removed.

Emily’s friend Susan was engaged with her brother Austin. The couple planned to start their lives in an urban city. Emily was upset with the news. The couple was persuaded to stay in Amherst. Emily felt relieved and sent a letter with this poem. Susan is compared to a Robin.

In spring I have a Bird 
Which sings for me
And enchants the spring. 
And as the summer nears
And as the Rose appears,
Robin is gone.

Yet I do not fret,
Though flown,
My Bird learns new melody for me
Beyond the sea
And will return.

A safe hand is firm
In a true Land -
Held melodies are mine
And though they now depart, 
I tell my doubting heart 
They’re yours.

In a serener Bright, 
In a more golden light 
I see 
Each little doubt and fear, 
Each little discord here 
Is removed.

#emily dickinson riddle#decoy#rose#robin#fast#repine#serene#bright#doubt#discord

Morning is due to all —

Morning is due to all —
To some — the Night —
To an imperial few —
The Auroral light.

A few people are allowed to appreciate the Aurora.

Morning is due to all —
Night is due to some —
The Aurora Is due
To an imperial few —

The Color of a Queen, is this ―

The Color of a Queen, is this ―
The Color of a Sun
At setting ― this and Amber ―
Beryl ― and this, at Noon ―

And when at night ― Auroran widths
Fling suddenly on men ―
‘Tis this ― and Witchcraft ― nature keeps
A Rank ― for Iodine ―

There is a Rank from natural Purple (Queen) to synthetic Iodine (witchcraft).

This is the Color of a Queen ―
The color of a Sun setting ―
Further Amber ―
And Beryl ― the color at Noon―

And at Dawn Auroran curtains
Widely spread on men ―
And Witchcraft―nature keeps
A Rank for Iodine.

Aurora is the effort

Aurora is the effort
Of the Celestial Face
Unconsciousness of Perfectness
To simulate, to Us.

Aurora makes efforts to be unconscious of her Beauty.

Aurora is the effort
Of the Ethereal Expression
To show unconsciously
Her Perfect Beauty.

OF Bronze–and Blaze–

OF Bronze–and Blaze–

The North–Tonight–

So adequate–it forms–

So preconcerted with itself–

So distant–it alarms–

An Unconcern so sovereign

To Universe, or me–

Infects my simple spirit

With Taints of Majesty–

Till I take vaster attitudes–

And strut upon my stem–

Disdaining Men, and Oxygen,

For Arrogance of them―

My Splendors, are Menagerie–

But their Unrivaled Show

Will entertain the Centuries

When I am, long ago,

An Island in dishonored Grass–

Whom none but Beetles–know.

Emily takes a breath by the overwhelmingly cool beauty of the Aurora.

Tonight, the North

Of Bronze and Blaze

Forms so adequate,

And established with itself,

It alarms so distant

So sovereign indifference

To Universe, or me

And infects my simple spirit

With spot of Majesty

Till I take vaster attitudes

And stand upon my stem

Disdaining Men, and Oxygen,

For Arrogance of them―

My Splendors, are varieties–

But their Unmatched Show

Will entertain the Centuries

When I am just an Island

In abandoned Grass

That only Beetles know.

Nature－sometimes sears a Sapling－

Nature－sometimes sears a Sapling－
Sometimes－scalps a Tree－
Her Green People recollect it
When they do not die－

Fainter Leaves－to Further Seasons－
Dumbly testify－
We－who have the Souls－
Die oftener－Not so vitally－

Nature’s robust plants recover soon, because they don’t have souls unlike us.

Nature sometimes scorches a young tree－
Sometimes makes it bald－
Her Green Plants recollect it
When they survive the drought－

Fainter Leaves silently testify
To Further Seasons－
We, who have the souls,
Not so vitally die oftener－

Count not that far that can be had,

Count not that far that can be had,
Though sunset lie between —
Nor that adjacent, that beside,
Is further than the sun.

Don’t depend on the visual proximity of stars.

Don’t judge visual proximity of two beside stars
When sunset lie between —
Nor another visually adjacent
When it is further than the sun.

I had no Cause to be awake —

I had no Cause to be awake —
My Best — was gone to sleep —
And Morn a new politeness took —　
And failed to wake them up —　

But called the others — clear —
And passed their Curtains by —
Sweet Morning — when I oversleep —
Knock — Recollect — to Me —

I looked at Sunrise — Once —
And then I looked at Them —
And wishfulness in me arose —
For Circumstance the same —

‘Twas such an Ample Peace —
It could not hold a Sigh —
'Twas Sabbath — with the Bells divorced —
'Twas Sunset — all the Day —

So choosing but a Gown —
And taking but a Prayer —
The only Raiment I should need —
I struggled — and was There —

Emily enjoyed the polar night. She was reluctant to join the morning prayer. 

I had no Cause to be awake —
My Best was to go to sleep —
And Morn took a new politeness
And failed to wake them up —　

But the others called clear
And parted their Curtains —
Sweet Morning when I oversleep —
I noticed the Knock —

I looked at Sunrise once
And then I looked at them —
And yearning for the same condition
Arose in me—

'Twas such an Ample Peace —
It could not hold a Sigh —
'Twas Sunday except for the sound of Bells
'Twas Sunset all the Day —

So choosing only a Gown —
And taking only a Prayer —
I searched the only accessory
I should need which was there

I see thee better — in the Dark —

I see thee better — in the Dark —
I do not need a Light —
The Love of Thee — a Prism be —
Excelling Violet —

I see thee better for the Years
That hunch themselves between —
The Miner’s Lamp — sufficient be —
To nullify the Mine —

And in the Grave — I see Thee best —
Its little Panels be
Aglow — All ruddy — with the Light
I held so high, for Thee —

What need of Day —
To Those whose Dark — hath so — surpassing Sun —
It deem it be — Continually —
At the Meridian?

Emily is fascinated by Fluorite Stone

I see thee better in the Dark —
I do not need a Light —
The Love of Thee be a Prism
Excelling Violet —

I see thee better for the Years
That hunch themselves between —
The Miner’s Lamp be sufficient be
To illuminate the Mine —

And I see Thee best in the Grave —
Its little Panels be glowing
All rosy with the Light
I held so high, for Thee —

I do not need Day in the Dark
For it has so excellent Sun —
It deem it be Continually
At the Meridian.

Brother of Ingots ― Ah Peru ―

Brother of Ingots ― Ah Peru ―
Empty the Hearts that purchased you ―

―

Sister of Ophir ―
Ah, Peru ―
Subtle the Sum
That purchase you ―

―

Brother of Ophir
Bright Adieu,
Honor, the shortest route
To you.

Emily Dickinson

Emily is indulged in her phantasy. She sighs” Peru” when she is fascinate by Golden Sunset and worships Peru (prosperous country of Gold) and compares the bright Sunset with rich Peru.  Ophir is also the famous mine which supported David and Solomon’s glory. However, Sunset is the cheapest and shortest way to get the pure Gold.

Brother of Ingots ― Ah Peru ―
Offer the Hearts to acquire Sunset ―

―

Sister of Ophir ―
Ah, Peru ―
How subtle is the Sum
To obtain you ―

―

Brother of Ophir
Bright Sunset,
Worship the shortest route
To Peru.

She sights a Bird — she chuckles —

She sights a Bird — she chuckles —
She flattens — then she crawls —
She runs without the look of feet —
Her eyes increase to Balls —

Her Jaws stir — twitching — hungry —
Her Teeth can hardly stand —
She leaps, but Robin leaped the first —
Ah, Pussy, of the Sand,

The Hopes so juicy ripening —
You almost bathed your Tongue —
When Bliss disclosed a hundred Toes —
And fled with every one —

Emily Dickinson

A ground-nesting Robin barely escaped from a Cat.

She finds a Bird — she grins —
She flattens — then she crawls —
She runs at high speed —
Her eyes grow to be Balls —

Her hungry Jaws stir twitching ——
Her Teeth can hardly bear —
She leaps, but Robin leaped at first —
Ah, Cat, on the dirt,

The juicy ripening Hopes—
You almost wetted your Tongue —
When Bliss disclosed a hundred Toes —
And fled with every one —

It was a quiet way —

It was a quiet way —
He asked if I was his —
I made no answer of the Tongue
But answer of the Eyes —
And then He bore me on
Before this mortal noise
With swiftness, as of Chariots
And distance, as of Wheels –
This World did drop away
As Acres from the feet
Of one that leaneth from Balloon
Upon an Ether street.
The Gulf behind was not,
The Continents were new —
Eternity it was before
Eternity was due.
No Seasons were to us —
It was not Night nor Morn —
But Sunrise stopped upon the place
And fastened it in Dawn.

Emily Dickinson

An apocryphal version of Emily’s Vision! Jesus revealed her the world of Eternity before she got Eternity.  In the New world of Resurrection, she found no Sunset or Night but only Sunrise that stood still, because Paradise is immortal and changeless. How boring is the Paradise? She could not enjoy gorgeous Sunset or sweet sleep.

It was a quiet way —
He asked if I was his love—
I made no answer of the Tongue
But answer of the Eyes —
And then He bore me on
Before this extreme noise
As speedy as Chariots
And distant as Wheels –
The Earth did drop away
As soil from the feet
Of one that leans from Balloon
Upon a Sky street.
The Gulf was not behind,
The world were new —
It was Eternity
Before Eternity was due.
No Seasons were to us —
It was not Night nor Morn —
But Sunrise stopped upon the place
And it fastened in Dawn.

No Brigadier throughout the Year

No Brigadier throughout the Year
So civic as the Jay.
A neighbor and a warrior too,
With shrill felicity

Pursuing winds that censure us
A February day,
The brother of the universe
Was never blown away.

The snow and he are intimate;
I ’ve often seen them play
When heaven looked upon us all
With such severity,

I felt apology were due
To an insulted sky,
Whose pompous frown was nutriment
To their temerity.

The pillow of this daring head
Is pungent evergreens;
His larder―terse and militant―
Unknown, refreshing things;

His character a tonic,
His future a dispute;
Unfair an immortality
That leaves this neighbor out.

Emily Dickinson

In blue uniform, the Jay is a military leader though inhabitant in urban region. He is well-disciplined and least vulnerable to any severe situation. Emily thinks it is unfair such a prominent bird could not enjoy immortality after his death because he is not human.

Through the Year no Military is
So civic as the Jay.
A neighbor and a warrior too,
With sharp joy

Pursuing winds that chasten us
A February day,
The brother of the sky
Was never blown away.

He is intimate with snow;
I ’ve often seen them play
When heaven looked upon us all
With such severity,

I felt apology were due
To an insulted sky,
Whose pompous frown was nutriment
To their temerity.

The pillow of this daring head
Is pungent evergreens;
His larder―terse and militant―
Unknown, refreshing things;

His character a tonic,
His future is disputable;
It is unfair to leave” immortality”
Out of this neighbor.