Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (1830 – 1886) was an American poet. Her works were largely unpublished and unknown during her lifetime.

To my quick war the Leaves – conferred
The Bushes – they were Bells –
I could not find a Privacy
From nature’s sentinels –

In Cave if I presumed to hide
The Walls – begun to tell –
Creation seemed a mighty Crack –
To make me visible –

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The Past is such a curious Creature
To look her in her Face
A transport may receipt us
Or a Disgrace –
Unarmed if any meet her

I charge him fly
Her faded Ammunition
Might yet reply.

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The Months have ends – the Years – a knot –
No Power can untie
To stretch a little further
A Skein of misery –

The Earth lays back these tired lives
In her mysterious Drawers
Too tenderly, that any doubt
An ultimate Repose –

The manner of the Children –
Who weary of the Day –
Themselves – the noisy Plaything
They cannot put away –

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I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Are you – Nobody – Too?
Then there’s a pair of us?
Don’t tell! they’d advertise – you know!

How dreary – to be – somebody!
How public – like a Frog –
To tell one’s name – the livelong June –
To an admiring Bog!

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If what we could – were what we should –
Criterion – be small –
It is the Ultimate of Talk –
The impotence to Tell –

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‘Speech’ – is a prank of Parliament –
‘Tears’ – a trick of the nerve –
But the Heart with the heaviest freight on
Doesn’t – always – move

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Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne’er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the Flag toady
Can tell the definition
So clear of Victory

As he defeated – dying –
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!

Source : “Romantic Writings: An Anthology” edited by W.E. Owens and Hamish Johnson. Printed by TJ International, Padstow, Cornwall, UK. “Emily Dickinson – Poems selected by Ted Hughes”. Published by Faber and Faber Limited.