Awake ye muses nine, sing me a strain divine,
Unwind the solemn twine, and tie my Valentine!
Oh the Earth was made for lovers, for damsel, and hopeless swain,
For sighing, and gentle whispering, and unity made of twain.
All things do go a courting, in earth, or sea, or air,
God hath made nothing single but thee in His world so fair!
The bride, and then the bridegroom, the two, and then the one,
Adam, and Eve, his consort, the moon, and then the sun;
The life doth prove the precept, who obey shall happy be,
Who will not serve the sovereign, be hanged on fatal tree.
The high do seek the lowly, the great do seek the small,
None cannot find who seeketh, on this terrestrial ball;
The bee doth court the flower, the flower his suit receives,
And they make merry wedding, whose guests are hundred leaves;
The wind doth woo the branches, the branches they are won,
And the father fond demandeth the maiden for his son.
The storm doth walk the seashore humming a mournful tune,
The wave with eye so pensive, looketh to see the moon,
Their spirits meet together, they make their solemn vows,
No more he singeth mournful, her sadness she doth lose.
The worm doth woo the mortal, death claims a living bride,
Night unto day is married, morn unto eventide;
Earth is a merry damsel, and heaven a knight so true,
And Earth is quite coquettish, and beseemeth in vain to sue.
Now to the application, to the reading of the roll,
To bringing thee to justice, and marshalling thy soul:
Thou art a human solo, a being cold, and lone,
Wilt have no kind companion, thou reap’st what thou hast sown.
Hast never silent hours, and minutes all too long,
And a deal of sad reflection, and wailing instead of song?
There’s Sarah, and Eliza, and Emeline so fair,
And Harriet, and Susan, and she with curling hair!
Thine eyes are sadly blinded, but yet thou mayest see
Six true, and comely maidens sitting upon the tree;
Approach that tree with caution, then up it boldly climb,
And seize the one thou lovest, nor care for space, or time!
Then bear her to the greenwood, and build for her a bower,
And give her what she asketh, jewel, or bird, or flower —
And bring the fife, and trumpet, and beat upon the drum —
And bid the world Goodmorrow, and go to glory home!
I think emily dickinson is a very good poet…i had to do a report on her for lanuge arts and found a lot of research on her she is one of the best poets ever! and had a very ruff life! and i dont think she should get dis respect! because she started poetry….while she wrote 1700 poems i bet some of you couldnt do that because your are to lazy so dont disrespect her!!!
I must admit, kind group, that there was a time, not to long ago, where I had the idea that all the great literature ever written was written by European males. However, after reading Ms. Dickinson, she must be rated in the top five of history. My personal list: William Shakespeare, Charles Dickins, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Ms. Dickinson. If you have a top five list, let me know. I’d love to read it.
I’m sorry, but Bob from Iraq…you realize that many other poets punctuate “incorrectly.” Although it is not really incorrect, its a different and writing style, which one of the trademarks emily dickinson is known for. She wouldn’t change the punctuation in her poems even when people said it was “wrong.”
I think this is a very awakning poem that many would love to read on thier spare time. Indeed it is a good poem.
Emily Dickinson knows her staff, i rank her with the likes of Ben Franklin, RW Emerson, but not Shakespeare.she is the best poetess of the nineteenth century, her poems are stunning.
i hate emily dickinson’s poems. she is very selfish and doesnt punctuate her poems correctly. she is one of the worst poets of the 19th century.
I think that emily dickenson was one of the many writers who could describe things in a beautiful way.I am privlaged to read her work and so what if she was a lesbian I think she was very brave to write the way she did it must have been hard for her in that age.
this poem is very good, even it sound different that what I have read. I hope to read some more.
I love Emily Dickinson’s poems. When i first started reading them i didnt really understand them. I think that is one of the reasons why i like her. you have to read them over and over and sometimes just really think about what she is saying because of the writing style.
I chose Emily Dickinson for a poetry reseach paper, at first just to have a poet but i found out that i really lke her and that her poems and very moving. Especially this one. Yes she is into women but hey evveryone has their preferance. I think thats why i like her, she isnt scared to say to the word that she is or anything she is bold and daring.
I needed a poem by Emily Dickinson for an English assignment, and although I’ve always loved her poems, this has definitely got to be one of my favorites. It’s actually reminded me of some that I’ve written before, and I actually think that the ones that most people describe as “creepy” are the most beutiful.
So what this is a gay poem……………….it is a very moving one……………….dickinson was a fine poet and yes probably a lesbian…but her poems are still beautiful and feeling in nature………..if u dont like them fine but dont be vulgar and put comments on this site…SO IMMATURE…………
the poem was admirable like a wind of a great gust
that blew over the ships to make the other winds lust.
it was wrote in a tone with such passion,
losing you in time and remember the forgot,
i hope you enjoyed my poem i enjoyed writin
plz email me with some of yours
magic120288@hotmail.com
the poet was speaking about about how love is found in all places. its beautiful
I truly believe she is the greatest poet of them all. Poetry is a major love of mine & I often find myself wandering off into the Bard, DHL and/or many other truly gifted persons. But when push comes to shove it’s always Emily.
It was she who convinced me of the truth of reincarnation (she & Mozart). No one that young could be that great, unless they were accessing something the rest of us were missing.
I really enjoyed reading this poem it was unlike any of dickinson’s poetry i have ever read before. It created wonderful imagery in my head, i thought it was simply beautiful.
The is poem possesses a theme that flits on fairies wings! Dickinson was a lovely poet and I feel honored that I’ve the opportunity to read her work.
I really love this website a lot! Ithink that more people should visit these! Hi blake!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS MY POEM, i loved you so, with all my heart, so why you had to go, because now… everytime i think of you, you take away my heart
kristina from
the tie of valentine is an agreement of castity