MANUSCRIPTS: There are two, both written late in 1871. The copy reproduced above (BPL Higg 24) was enclosed with three other poems in a letter (BPL Higg 74) to T. W. Higginson, written in October or November. The semifinal draft below (H 206b) is in packet 38.

Remembrance has a Rear and Front.
'Tis something like a House -
It has a Garret also
For Refuse and the Mouse -

Besides the deepest Cellar
That ever Mason laid -
Leave me not ever there alone
Oh thou Almighty God!

ED clearly intended the last two lines in the packet copy to be canceled, for, having entered the suggested change, she crossed them out in pencil. The fair copy to Higginson would seem to be her final version, except that there is also a transcript extant of a copy she sent to Sue (H ST 9a), identical with the holograph to Higginson, wherein she selects "Contents" rather than "Fathoms" in line 7. The copy to Sue, now lost, was a variant. PUBLICATION: Poems (1896), 56, titled "Remembrance." The text follows the copy to Higginson, with one alteration to effect rhyme:

6. laid] hewed

When the poem was incorporated in CP (1924), the text followed Poems (1896). A further alteration was introduced in Centenary edition (1930) and later collections:

4. Refuse] refuge