Before I Got my Eye Put Out, by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson

Before I Got my Eye Put Out

327

Before I got my eye put out

I liked as well to see—

As other Creatures, that have Eyes

And know no other way—

But were it told to me—Today—

That I might have the sky

For mine—I tell you that my Heart

Would split, for size of me—

The Meadows—mine—

The Mountains—mine—

All Forests—Stintless Stars—

As much of Noon as I could take

Between my finite eyes—

The Motions of the Dipping Birds—

The Morning’s Amber Road—

For mine—to look at when I liked—

The News would strike me dead—

So safer—guess—with just my soul

Upon the Window pane—

Where other Creatures put their eyes—

Incautious—of the Sun—

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Emily Dickinson

Before I Got my Eye Put Out

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