I cautious, scanned my little life

Emily Dickinson 1830 (Amherst) – 1886 (Amherst)



I cautious, scanned my little life—
I winnowed what would fade
From what would last till Heads like mine
Should be a-dreaming laid.

I put the latter in a Barn—
The former, blew away.
I went one winter morning
And lo - my priceless Hay

Was not upon the "Scaffold"—
Was not upon the "Beam"—
And from a thriving Farmer—
A Cynic, I became.

Whether a Thief did it—
Whether it was the wind—
Whether Deity's guiltless—
My business is, to find!

So I begin to ransack!
How is it Hearts, with Thee?
Art thou within the little Barn
Love provided Thee?

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 25, 2023

32 sec read
114

Quick analysis:

Scheme XAXA BCXC XXXX XDXD XEBE
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 545
Words 104
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Emily Dickinson

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. more…

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