Emily Dickinson (1830–86). Complete Poems. Part Three: Love 1924.

X

AS if some little Arctic flower,
Upon the polar hem,
Went wandering down the latitudes,
Until it puzzled came
To continents of summer,	5
To firmaments of sun,
To strange, bright crowds of flowers,
And birds of foreign tongue!
I say, as if this little flower
To Eden wandered in—	10
What then? Why, nothing, only
Your inference therefrom! XI MY river runs to thee: Blue sea, wilt welcome me?    My river waits reply. Oh sea, look graciously!    I ’ll fetch thee brooks         5 From spotted nooks,—    Say, sea, Take me! XXXI THE MOON is distant from the sea, And yet with amber hands She leads him, docile as a boy, Along appointed sands.    He never misses a degree;         5 Obedient to her eye, He comes just so far toward the town, Just so far goes away.    Oh, Signor, thine the amber hand, And mine the distant sea,—         10 Obedient to the least command Thine eyes impose on me. XLI SPLIT the lark and you ’ll find the music,   Bulb after bulb, in silver rolled, Scantily dealt to the summer morning,   Saved for your ear when lutes be old.    Loose the flood, you shall find it patent,         5   Gush after gush, reserved for you; Scarlet experiment! sceptic Thomas,   Now, do you doubt that your bird was true? LV I ENVY seas whereon he rides,   I envy spokes of wheels Of chariots that him convey,   I envy speechless hills    That gaze upon his journey;         5   How easy all can see What is forbidden utterly   As heaven, unto me!    I envy nests of sparrows   That dot his distant eaves,         10 The wealthy fly upon his pane,   The happy, happy leaves    That just abroad his window   Have summer’s leave to be, The earrings of Pizarro         15   Could not obtain for me.    I envy light that wakes him,   And bells that boldly ring To tell him it is noon abroad,—   Myself his noon could bring,         20    Yet interdict my blossom   And abrogate my bee, Lest noon in everlasting night   Drop Gabriel and me.