Emily Dickinson's Correspondences
Correspondence with Susan Dickinson


H 273a
I never told the buried gold
Upon the hill that lies -
I saw the sun, his plunder done -
Crouch low to guard his prize -

He stood as near
As stood you here -
A pace had been between -
Did but a snake bisect the brake
My life had forfeit been.

That was a wondrous booty -
I hope 'twas honest gained -

H 273b

Those were the fairest ingots
That ever kissed the spade.

Whether to keep the secret -
Whether to reveal  
Whether while I ponder
Kidd may sudden sail -

Could a shrewd advise me
We might e'en divide -
Should a shrewd betray me -
"Atropos" decide   

 

H 273


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Image reproduced by permission of the Houghton Library, Harvard University. Not to be reproduced in whole or in part without permission.
Transcription and commentary copyright 1996 by Martha Nell Smith, all rights reserved
Last updated on June 25, 1998
Maintained by Tanya Clement <tclement@umd.edu>