If He were living — dare I ask —

by Emily Dickinson (1830–1886)

If He were living — dare I ask —
And how if He be dead —
And so around the Words I went —
Of meeting them — afraid —

I hinted Changes — Lapse of Time —
The Surfaces of Years —
I touched with Caution — lest they crack —
And show me to my fears —

Reverted to adjoining Lives —
Adroitly turning out
Wherever I suspected Graves —
'Twas prudenter — I thought —

And He — I pushed — with sudden force —
In face of the Suspense —
"Was buried" — "Buried"! "He!"
My Life just holds the Trench —

Source: Wikisource

Get a poem on every new tab – PoemLake for Chrome

More poems by Emily Dickinson

All poems by Emily Dickinson →