To One Denied the Drink, by Emily Dickinson

To One Denied the Drink

490

To One denied the drink

To tell what Water is

Would be acuter, would it not

Than letting Him surmise?

To lead Him to the Well

And let Him hear it drip

Remind Him, would it not, somewhat

Of His condemned lip?

A shady friend for torrid days Is easier to find Than one of higher temperature For frigid hour of mind. The vane a little to the east

894 Of Consciousness, her awful Mate The Soul cannot be rid— As easy the secreting her Behind the Eyes of God.

199 I’m “wife”'—I’ve finished that’— That other state’— I’m Czar’—I’m “Woman” now’— It’s safer so’—

A feather from the Whippoorwill That everlasting—sings! Whose galleries—are Sunrise— Whose Opera—the Springs— Whose Emerald Nest the Ages spin

A Cloud withdrew from the Sky Superior Glory be But that Cloud and its Auxiliarie… Are forever lost to me Had I but further scanned

801 I play at Riches—to appease The Clamoring for Gold— It kept me from a Thief, I think, For often, overbold

91 So bashful when I spied her! So pretty—so ashamed! So hidden in her leaflets Lest anybody find—

The Work of Her that went, The Toil of Fellows done - In Ovens green our Mother bakes, By Fires of the Sun.

96 Sexton! My Master’s sleeping here… Pray lead me to his bed! I came to build the Bird’s nest, And sow the Early seed—

A House upon the Height— That Wagon never reached— No Dead, were ever carried down— No Peddler’s Cart—approached— Whose Chimney never smoked—

54 If I should die, And you should live— And time should gurgle on— And morn should beam—

742 Four Trees—upon a solitary Acre— Without Design Or Order, or Apparent Action— Maintain—

410 The first Day’s Night had come— And grateful that a thing So terrible—had been endured— I told my Soul to sing—

243 I’ve known a Heaven, like a Tent— To wrap its shining Yards— Pluck up its stakes, and disappear… Without the sound of Boards

11 I never told the buried gold Upon the hill—that lies— I saw the sun—his plunder done Crouch low to guard his prize.