Monday, May 05, 2008
I Measure Every Grief I meet -- by Emily Dickinson
i came across this poem online recently, and remembered how much i like it. emily dickinson is one of my favorite poets, along with e.e. cummings. this poem seems particularly appropriate lately.I measure every Grief I meet
With narrow, probing, Eyes--
I wonder if It weighs like Mine--
Or has an Easier size.
I wonder if They bore it long--
Or did it just begin--
I could not tell the Date of Mine--
It feels so old a pain--
I wonder if it hurts to live--
And if They have to try--
And whether--could They choose between--
It would not be--to die--
I note that Some--gone patient long--
At length, renew their smile--
An imitation of a Light
That has so little Oil--
I wonder if when Years have piled--
Some Thousands--on the Harm--
That hurt them early--such a lapse
Could give them any Balm--
Or would they go on aching still
Through Centuries of Nerve--
Enlightened to a larger Pain--
In Contrast with the Love--
The Grieved--are many--I am told--
There is the various Cause--
Death--is but one--and comes but once--
And only nails the eyes--
There's Grief of Want--and grief of Cold--
A sort they call "Despair"--
There's Banishment from native Eyes--
In Sight of Native Air--
And though I may not guess the kind--
Correctly--yet to me
A piercing Comfort it affords
In passing Calvary--
To note the fashions--of the Cross--
And how they're mostly worn--
Still fascinated to presume
That Some--are like My Own--
--Emily Dickinson
link | posted by Emily at 10:14 AM
4 Comments:
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JD had this to say:
OH I just like that a lot!
- 11:23 AM
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Muum had this to say:
OH, sweetheart, this makes me sad. I wish somehow I could take these migraines away for you.
- 3:31 PM
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Sue had this to say:
Wow. That really resonates with me right now.
- 10:07 PM
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Kendra and Nathan had this to say:
I love that while suffering from grief, she notices and feels compassion for others who grieve. A rare quality that you also possess Emily. Great poem.
- 9:25 AM
