To know just how He suffered—would be dear

Emily Dickinson 1830 (Amherst) – 1886 (Amherst)



To know just how He suffered—would be dear—
To know if any Human eyes were near
To whom He could entrust His wavering gaze—
Until it settle broad—on Paradise—

To know if He was patient—part content—
Was Dying as He thought—or different—
Was it a pleasant Day to die—
And did the Sunshine face his way—

What was His furthest mind—Of Home—or God—
Or what the Distant say—
At news that He ceased Human Nature
Such a Day—

And Wishes—Had He Any—
Just His Sigh—Accented—
Had been legible—to Me—
And was He Confident until
Ill fluttered out—in Everlasting Well—

And if He spoke—What name was Best—
What last
What One broke off with
At the Drowsiest—

Was He afraid—or tranquil—
Might He know
How Conscious Consciousness—could grow—
Till Love that was—and Love too best to be—
Meet—and the Junction be Eternity

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 25, 2023

42 sec read
201

Quick analysis:

Scheme AAXX BXXC XCXC DXDXX XXXB XEEDD
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 852
Words 143
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 5, 4, 5

Emily Dickinson

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. more…

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