Where I have lost, I softer tread

Emily Dickinson 1830 (Amherst) – 1886 (Amherst)



Where I have lost, I softer tread—
I sow sweet flower from garden bed—
I pause above that vanished head
          And mourn.

Whom I have lost, I pious guard
From accent harsh, or ruthless word—
Feeling as if their pillow heard,
          Though stone!

When I have lost, you'll know by this—
A Bonnet black—A dusk surplice—
A little tremor in my voice
          Like this!

Why, I have lost, the people know
Who dressed in flocks of purest snow
Went home a century ago
          Next Bliss!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

26 sec read
88

Quick analysis:

Scheme AAAX XBBX CCXC DDDC
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 494
Words 87
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4

Emily Dickinson

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. more…

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