Writings by Susan Dickinson


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H bMS Am 1118.95, Box 9


 When death with his white fingers
Shall touch my brow
And close my eyes forever
     To all living beauty
Choose for me all ye you to whom
     I may be dear
A grave in the Sun near the
          border of the Sea 3
     Infinite 1 and restless 2 -
[i.e., A grave in the Sun near the
border of Infinite and restless Sea]

And when the Great were appeased [have appeared?]
I shall hear shall chant the old kisses echo
The To music far away
It is enough the treasure of grief
     and joy amassed
In human life
To charm the eternal sleep -

S.H.D. Commonplace Book (16:35:1),
Martha Dickinson Bianchi Collection,
John Hay Library, Brown University Libraries


 When death shall poise his white
     fingers upon my brow
When my eyes shall be forever
   closed to all living beauty
Let me choose all you to
Whom I may be dear
A tomb in the sunshine near the
   Infinite and restless sea

When my eyes shall be not as
          now
To this[?] all living beauty
Let me for Chosen all so dear to me
A tomb in the sun bordering the sea
     Great in infinity


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Transcription and commentary copyright 1998 by Martha Nell Smith,
Laura Elyn Lauth, and Lara Vetter, all rights reserved
Maintained by Rebecca Mooney  <rnmooney@umd.edu>
Last updated on January 23, 2008

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