Emily Dickinson Poetry

E m i l y   D i c k i n s o n
(1830-1886)

FORBIDDEN FRUIT I
Forbidden fruit a flavor has
  That lawful orchards mocks;
How luscious lies the pea within
  The pod that Duty locks!

FORBIDDEN FRUIT II
Heaven is what I cannot reach!
  The apple on the tree,
Provided it do hopeless hang,
  That ‘heaven’ is, to me.

The color on the cruising cloud,
  The interdicted ground
Behind the hill, the house behind, —
  There Paradise is found!

DROWNING IS NOT SO PITIFUL
Drowning is not so pitiful
  As the attempt to rise.
Three times, ‘t is said, a sinking man
  Comes up to face the skies,
And then declines forever
  To that abhorred abode
Where hope and he part company, —
  For he is grasped of God.
The Maker’s cordial visage,
  However good to see,
Is shunned, we must admit it,
  Like an adversity.

THE INEVITABLE
While I was fearing it, it came,
  But came with less of fear,
Because that fearing it so long
  Had almost made it dear.
There is a fitting a dismay,
  A fitting a despair.
‘Tis harder knowing it is due,
  Than knowing it is here.
The trying on the utmost,
  The morning it is new,
Is terribler than wearing it
  A whole existence through.

HEART, WE WILL FORGET HIM
Heart, we will forget him!
  You and I, to-night!
You may forget the warmth he gave,
  I will forget the light.

When you have done, pray tell me,
  That I my thoughts may dim;
Haste! lest while you’re lagging,
  I may remember him!

The Brain is wider than the Sky

The Brain—is wider than the Sky—
For—put them side by side—
The one the other will contain
With ease—and You—beside—

The Brain is deeper than the sea—
For—hold them—Blue to Blue—
The one the other will absorb—
As Sponges—Buckets—do—

The Brain is just the weight of God—
For—Heft them—Pound for Pound—
And they will differ—if they do—
As Syllable from Sound—

Emily Dickinson
(1830-1886)

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