poems sent from dickinson to higginson


To disappear enhances -
The Man that runs away
Is tinctured for an instant
With Immortality

But yesterday a Vagrant-
Today in Memory lain
With superstitious value
We tamper with "Again"

But "Never" far as Honor
Withdraws the Worthless thing
And impotent to cherish
We hasten to adorn -

Of Death the sternest function
That just as we discern
The Excellence defies us-
Securest gathered then

The Fruit perverse to plucking,
But leaning to the Sight
With the extatic limit
Of unobtained Delight


thomas johnson's note on poem 1209 | index to dickinson poems sent to higginson

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Commentary copyright 1998 by Martha Nell Smith, all rights reserved
Maintained by Lara Vetter <lv26@umail.umd.edu>
Last updated on September 10, 1998