The last Night that She lived
The last Night that She lived
Emily Dickinson
The last Night that She lived
It was a Common Night
Except the Dying — this to Us
Made Nature different
We noticed smallest things —
Things overlooked before
By this great light upon our Minds
Italicized — as 'twere.
As We went out and in
Between Her final Room
And Rooms where Those to be alive
Tomorrow were, a Blame
That Others could exist
While She must finish quite
A Jealousy for Her arose
So nearly infinite —
We waited while She passed —
It was a narrow time —
Too jostled were Our Souls to speak
At length the notice came.
She mentioned, and forgot —
Then lightly as a Reed
Bent to the Water, struggled scarce —
Consented, and was dead —
And We — We placed the Hair —
And drew the Head erect —
And then an awful leisure was
Belief to regulate —
Verse breaks and indentation are preserved. Wrapped lines have a hanging indent. Width adapts to your screen.
Written c. 1866. Published 1890.
