Nothing New

Classic writing, modern delivery

Emily Dickinson · Poems

Poem 186 of 446 · Second Series: Love

Poem 14

— ✻ —

He put the belt around my life, --
I heard the buckle snap,
And turned away, imperial,
My lifetime folding up
Deliberate, as a duke would do
A kingdom's title-deed, --
Henceforth a dedicated sort,
A member of the cloud.

Yet not too far to come at call,
And do the little toils
That make the circuit of the rest,
And deal occasional smiles
To lives that stoop to notice mine
And kindly ask it in, --
Whose invitation, knew you not
For whom I must decline?

Receive Emily Dickinson one poem at a time, on your schedule.
Subscribe →