Emily Dickinson

I Died for Beauty
I died for beauty, but was scarce
Adjusted in the tomb,
When one who died for truth was lain
In an adjoining room.

He questioned softly why I failed?
"For beauty," I replied.
"And I for truth, -- the two are one;
We brethren are," he said.

And so, as kinsmen met at night,
We talked between the rooms,
Until the moss had reached our lips,
And covered up our names.

Because I Could Not Stop for Death
Because I could not stop for Death--
He kindly stopped for me--
The Carriage held but just Ourselves--
And Immortality.

We slowly drove-- He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility--

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess-- in the Ring--
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain--
We passed the Setting Sun--

Or rather-- He passed Us--
The Dews drew quivering and chill--
For only Gossamer, my Gown--
My Tippet-- only Tulle

We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground--
The Roof was scarcely visible--
The Cornice-- in the Ground--

Since then-- 'tis Centuries-- and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward Eternity

Much Madness is Divinest Sense
Much madness is divinest sense
To a discerning eye;
Much sense the starkest madness.
'Tis the majority
In this, as all, prevails.
Assent, and you are sane;
Demur, -- you're straightway dangerous,
And handled with a chain.

The Soul Selects her Own Society
The Soul selects her own Society--
Then-- shuts the Door--
To her divine Majority---
Present no more--

Unmoved-- she notes the Chariots-- pausing--
At her low Gate--
Unmoved-- and Emperor be kneeling
Upon her Mat--

I've known her-- from an ample nation--
Choose one--
Then-- close the Calves of her attention--
Like Stone--

This is my Letter to the World
This is my letter to the World
That never wrote to Me--
The simple News that Nature told--
With tender Majesty

Her Message is committed
To Hands I cannot see--
For love of Her-- Sweet-- countrymen--
Judge tenderly-- of Me

Tell all the Truth but Tell it Slant
Tell all the Truth but tell it slant--
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth's superb surprise

As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind--

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