Emily Dickinson

I saw –
Today –
a Cricket Man,

okay

he did not stop to Chat —

is that it
did anything else happen

No –

let’s go out tonight okay
we don’t have to do anything big but I think we should go out
just for dinner or something
I think that would be a good idea

Go out, Again? -
I went Out to Mount Holyoke

for college
you went there for college thirteen years ago

And now I must rest.

have you seen –
my Shawl

which shawl

the White shawl

I thought you were wearing your white shawl

a person can have more than one white Shawl
a person cannot be content with but one white Shawl

i think i saw it downstairs

Alas

just on the couch

You know I do not go downed Stairs
I will knit a new one

that’s ridiculous

when I die
I wish to be buried in that Shawl
I wish to be buried — in ten Thousand Shawls –

you’re not dying
you’re just afraid of the stairs

No Coward Soul Is Mine
I fear no Step’d Floor

do you want me to just bring it to you

if you are already going to be coming Upstairs
will you also grab my slippers by the Door
and also –

yes?

some — Tea

okay

also there are four more Shawls on the stairs
bring those too

A narrow Fellow in the Grass
Occasionally rides —

do you mean Harris?
the caretaker?

You may have met Him —

That’s Harris

His notice sudden is —

have you been hiding in the yard again?

he is snakes

He is not snakes

he is definitely Snakes

you know it scares the maids when you hide in the yard

A Burdock – clawed my Gown

Emily

A Bird came down the Walk
A Rat Surrendered here

Emily none of this is true

Fame is a Bee

I can see you from the window
nothing’s clawing at you or surrendering

a soft Sea is washing around the house
I haven’t told the Garden yet

Emily why don’t you come inside

A Toad can die of Light, you know

I know
why don’t you come inside
I’ll get your white shawl

which white Shawl

whichever one you want

I want the one in the library

okay
will you come inside then?

Toads can die of light you know

I believe you

Kills them right up

Emily
Emily, dearest
will you please let me in?
I just want to air out your room

Air has no Residence
no Neighbor

Emily, it’s been an awfully long time since you came out
can I please come in?

not — Now –

When can I come in?

After a hundred years

Emily
will you give me a real amount of time, please?

After all Birds have been investigated and laid aside

do you have birds in there?

After the Sun comes out

Emily
answer the question

At Half past Three

how many birds are in there

A single Bird

this is why people don’t visit us
the bird thing

Back from the cordial Grave I dragged him

is the bird still alive, Emily?

do you know what the Best witchcraft is?

Emily

Geometry

just tell me if the bird is still alive

COCOONS ABOVE
COCOONS BELOW

I’m coming in

COCOONS