By: Mary Meriam

Mary Meriam — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:26:45 +0000

I’ve been reading this poem. Would anyone like to discuss it? I’ve been wondering who “You” is. Should I not wonder? The last stanza makes me think “You” had to be Sue. “For You – served Heaven – You know,” makes me think “You” might be Rev. Wadsworth. Is “You” an amalgam that represents marriage? I feel this poem is one of ED’s greatest.
I cannot live with You -
It would be Life -
And Life is over there -
Behind the Shelf
The Sexton keeps the Key to -
Putting up
Our Life – His Porcelain -
Like a Cup -
Discarded of the Housewife -
Quaint – or Broke -
A newer Sevres pleases -
Old Ones crack -
I could not die – with You -
For One must wait
To shut the Other’s Gaze down -
You – could not -
And I – Could I stand by
And see You – freeze -
Without my Right of Frost -
Death’s privilege?
Nor could I rise – with You -
Because Your Face
Would put out Jesus’ -
That New Grace
Glow plain – and foreign
On my homesick Eye -
Except that You than He
Shone closer by -
They’d judge Us – How -
For You – served Heaven – You know,
Or sought to -
I could not -
Because You saturated Sight –
And I had no more Eyes
For sordid excellence
As Paradise
And were You lost, I would be -
Though My Name
Rang loudest
On the Heavenly fame -
And were You – saved -
And I – condemned to be
Where You were not -
That self – were Hell to Me -
So We must meet apart -
You there – I – here -
With just the Door ajar
That Oceans are – and Prayer -
And that White Sustenance -
Despair -
- Emily Dickinson
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By: Mary Meriam