Poetessa, nato venerdì 10 dicembre 1830 a Amherst, Massachusetts (USA - Stati Uniti d'America), morto sabato 15 maggio 1886 a Amherst, Massachusetts (USA - Stati Uniti d'America)
Did you ever stand in a Cavern's Mouth - Widths out of the Sun - And look - and shudder, and block your breath - And deem to be alone In such a place, what horror, How Goblin it would be - And fly, as 'twere pursuing you? Then Loneliness - looks so -
Did you ever look in a Cannon's face - Between whose Yellow eye - And your's - the Judgment intervened - The Question of "To die" -
Extemporizing in your ear Distinct as Satyr's Drums - If you remember, and were saved - It's liker so - it seems.
The Night was wide, and furnished scant With but a single Star - That often as a Cloud it met - Blew out itself - for fear - The Wind pursued the little Bush - And drove away the Leaves November left - then clambered up And fretted in the Eaves -
No Squirrel went abroad - A Dog's belated feet Like intermittent Plush, be heard Adown the empty Street -
To feel if Blinds be fast - And closer to the fire - Her little Rocking Chair to draw - And recollect the Poor -
The Housewife's gentle Task - How pleasanter - said she Unto the Sofa opposite - The Sleet - than May, no Thee.
I cried at Pity - not at Pain - I heard a Woman say "Poor Child" - and something in her voice Convinced me - of me - So long I fainted, to myself It seemed the common way, And Health, and Laughter, Curious things - To look at, like a Toy -
To sometimes hear "Rich people" buy - And see the Parcel rolled - And carried, I suppose - to Heaven, For children, made of Gold -
But not to touch, or wish for, Or think of, with a sigh - And so and so - had been to me, Had God willed differently.
I wish I knew that Woman's name - So when she comes this way, To hold my life, and hold my ears For fear I hear her say
She's "sorry I am dead" - again - Just when the Grave and I - Have sobbed ourselves almost to sleep, Our only Lullaby.
Empty my Heart, of Thee - It's single Artery - Begin, and leave Thee out - Simply Extinction's Date - Much Billow hath the Sea - One Baltic - They - Subtract Thyself, in play, And not enough of me Is left - to put away - "Myself" meanth Thee -
Erase the Root - no Tree - Thee - then - no me - The Heavens stripped - Eternity's vast pocket, picked.
We talked as Girls do - Fond, and late - We speculated fair, on every subject, but the Grave - Of our's, none affair - We handled Destinies, as cool - As we - Disposers - be - And God, a Quiet Party To our authority -
But fondest, dwelt upon Ourself As we eventual - be - When Girls, to Women, softly raised We - occupy - Degree -
We parted with a contract To cherish, and to write But Heaven made both, impossible Before another night.
I like to see it lap the Miles - And lick the Valleys up - And stop to feed itself at Tanks - And then - prodigious step Around a Pile of Mountains - And supercilious peer In Shanties - by the sides of Roads - And then a Quarry pare
To fit it's sides And crawl between Complaining all the while In horrid - hooting stanza - Then chase itself down Hill -
And neigh like Boanerges - Then - punctual as - a Star Stop - docile and omnipotent At it's own stable door.
It ceased to hurt me, though so slow I could not see the trouble go - But only knew by looking back - That something - had obscured the Track - Nor when it altered, I could say, For I had worn it, every day, As constant as the Childish frock - I hung upon the Peg, at night.
But not the Grief - that nestled Close As Needles - ladies softly press To Cushions Cheeks - To keep their place -
Nor what consoled it, I could trace - Except, whereas 'twas Wilderness - It's better - almost Peace.
A Toad, can die of Light - Death is the Common Right Of Toads and Men - Of Earl and Midge The privilege - Why swagger, then? The Gnat's supremacy is large as Thine - Life - is Another Thing - So measure Wine - Naked of Flask - Naked of Cask - Bare Rhine - Which Ruby's mine?
Inconceivably solemn! Things so gay Pierce - by the very Press Of Imagery - Their far Parades - order on the eye With a mute Pomp - A pleading Pageantry -
Flags, are a brave sight - But no true Eye Ever went by One - Steadily -
Music's triumphant - But a fine Ear Winces with delight Are Drums too near.
I gave myself to Him - And took Himself, for Pay, The Solemn Contract of a Life Was ratified, this way - The Wealth might disappoint - Myself a poorer prove Than this great Purchaser suspect, The Daily Own - of Love
Depreciate the Vision - But till the Merchant buy - How Fable - in the Isles of Spice - The subtle Cargoes - lie -
At least - 'tis Mutual - Risk - Some - found it - Mutual Gain - Sweet Debt of Life - Each Night to owe - Insolvent - every Noon.