Sunday, October 26, 2014



I know some lonely houses off the road
A robber 'd like the look of, -
Wooden barred,
And windows hanging low,
Inviting to
A portico,
Where two could creep:
One hand the tools,
The other peep
To make sure all's asleep.
Old-fashioned eyes,
Not easy to surprise!

How orderly the kitchen 'd look by night,
With just a clock, -
But they could gag the tick,
And mice won't bark;
And so the walls don't tell,
None will.

A pair of spectacles ajar just stir -
An almanac's aware.
Was it the mat winked,
Or a nervous star?
The moon slides down the stair
To see who's there.

There's plunder, - where?
Tankard, or spoon,
Earring, or stone,
A watch, some ancient brooch
To match the grandmamma,
Staid sleeping there.

Day rattles, too,
Stealth's slow;
The sun has got as far
As the third sycamore.
Screams chanticleer,
"Who's there?"
And echoes, trains away,
Sneer- "Where?"
While the old couple, just astir,
Fancy the sunrise left the door ajar!

~ Emily  Dickinson (1830-86)


8 comments:

  1. What made you post this particular poem today, FT?

    It's a great piece, but I can't see that it has any relevance to current issues and events.

    OH! I guess I just answered my own question, didn't I?

    Well, frankly, I don't blame you.

    Helen Highwater

    ReplyDelete
  2. Emily might like to take a look at some of these photos.

    For example, the items in I've Turned the Page are still there, undisturbed, after an unknown number of years.

    And you must see The Tea Will Be Ready in A Moment!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Helen,
    After the election on November 4, I may withdraw from posting about politics for a time.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Support Conservatives Blogs by Keep this Old Mississippi Redneck in Ammo and Beer! This Is a Public Service Announcement.


    Ted Kennedy

    ReplyDelete
  5. The night was dark and dreary,
    the robbers were in their den,
    when one robber said to the other,
    "Tell me a story,"
    ...and so he began...

    De capo

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete

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