Friday, November 6, 2015




After great pain
A formal feeling comes
The nerves sit ceremonious –– like tombs.

The stiff hear questions
Was it He that bore ––
And yesterday –– or centuries before?

The feet mechanical go round ––
A wooden way
Of ground or air or ought.

Regardless grown ––
A quartz contentment lie a stone.

This is the hour of lead.
Remembered –– if outlived ––
As freezing persons recollect the snow.

First chill ––
Then stupor ––
Then –– the letting go.

~ Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)


8 comments:

  1. The best summing up of grief ever written, IMO.

    This is the hour of lead.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Remembered –– if outlived ––
      As freezing persons recollect the snow ––
      First chill –– then stupor ––
      Then –– the letting go."

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Yes, Jersey. Thanks for asking. This just happens to be the week when several people very important to me happen to have died, so I commemorate them with poetry. I don't brood, but I don't forget either. This is my way of showing respect. It's a very personal thing, I admit.

      So yes, aside from growing old and losing energy I'm fine.

      We'll soon get back to business as usual, and then you can start calling me a silly idiot again. ;-)

      How's business? I can't think of anything more challenging than running a restaurant and making it pay. I wish you'd tell us about it sometime.

      Delete
    2. A fitting way to show respect for those who had profound influence and effect on your life.

      Very touching. Be well FreeThinke.

      Delete
  3. Sorry for your bad week FT.
    I hope better things will be on the way.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My condolences to you on your loss, FT.

    ReplyDelete

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