If He were living — dare I ask —
And how if He be dead —
And so around the Words I went —
Of meeting them — afraid —

I hinted Changes — Lapse of Time —
The Surfaces of Years —
I touched with Caution — lest they crack —
And show me to my fears —

Reverted to adjoining Lives —
Adroitly turning out
Wherever I suspected Graves —
‘Twas prudenter — I thought —

And He — I pushed — with sudden force —
In face of the Suspense —
“Was buried” — “Buried”! “He!”
My Life just holds the Trench —

Analysis, meaning and summary of Emily Dickinson's poem If He were living — dare I ask —

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