POEMS OF EMILY DICKINSON
If spoken by the distant bird,
If met in ether sea
By frigate or by merchantman,
Report was not to me.
If met in ether sea
By frigate or by merchantman,
Report was not to me.
XIX
I STARTED early, took my dog,
And visited the sea;
The mermaids in the basement
Came out to look at me,
And visited the sea;
The mermaids in the basement
Came out to look at me,
And frigates in the upper floor
Extended hempen hands,
Presuming me to be a mouse
Aground, upon the sands.
Extended hempen hands,
Presuming me to be a mouse
Aground, upon the sands.
But no man moved me till the tide
Went past my simple shoe,
And past my apron and my belt,
And past my bodice too,
Went past my simple shoe,
And past my apron and my belt,
And past my bodice too,
And made as he would eat me up
As wholly as a dew
Upon a dandelion’s sleeve —
And then I started too.
As wholly as a dew
Upon a dandelion’s sleeve —
And then I started too.
And he — he followed close behind;
I felt his silver heel
Upon my ankle, — then my shoes
Would overflow with pearl.
I felt his silver heel
Upon my ankle, — then my shoes
Would overflow with pearl.
[88]
