Our Lives Are Swiss, par Emily Dickinson

Our Lives Are Swiss

Our lives are Swiss—

So still—so Cool—

Till some odd afternoon

The Alps neglect their Curtains

And we look farther on!

Italy stands the other side!

While like a guard between—

The solemn Alps—

The siren Alps

Forever intervene!

There comes a warning like a spy A shorter breath of Day A stealing that is not a stealth And Summers are away

164 Mama never forgets her birds, Though in another tree— She looks down just as often And just as tenderly

493 The World—stands—solemner—to me— Since I was wed—to Him— A modesty befits the soul That bears another’s—name—

98 One dignity delays for all— One mitred Afternoon— None can avoid this purple— None evade this Crown!

501 This World is not Conclusion. A Species stands beyond— Invisible, as Music— But positive, as Sound—

408 Unit, like Death, for Whom? True, like the Tomb, Who tells no secret Told to Him—

His bill an auger is, His head, a cap and frill. He laboreth at every tree,— A worm his utmost goal.

826 Love reckons by itself—alone— “As large as I”—relate the Sun To One who never felt it blaze— Itself is all the like it has—

Of Brussels—it was not— Of Kidderminster? Nay— The Winds did buy it of the Woods… They—sold it unto me It was a gentle price—

546 To fill a Gap Insert the Thing that caused it— Block it up With Other—and 'twill yawn the mo…

33 If recollecting were forgetting, Then I remember not. And if forgetting, recollecting, How near I had forgot.

LXVI WHEN I hoped I feared, Since I hoped I dared; Everywhere alone As a church remain;

I have no life but this, To lead it here; Nor any death, but lest Dispelled from there; Nor tie to earths to come,

951 As Frost is best conceived By force of its Result— Affliction is inferred By subsequent effect—

679 Conscious am I in my Chamber, Of a shapeless friend— He doth not attest by Posture— Nor Confirm—by Word—