EMILY DICKINSON
1830-1886
Thomas DeFreitas
Between these years — a Life —
Of unobtrusive Fame —
Of nameless Notoriety —
Anonymous — Renown —
Gathering gemlike Accidents
Of primness and panache —
A coruscating heaven's-worth
Of Treasures — in the Mesh —
A canticle of Lazarus
That makes a poor soul rich —
A Wealth of Sound — a golden Trove —
That hallows Avarice —
A talent for the Sparrow —
A farthing for the King —
Such prodigal Economies
And saintly Reasoning!
Your ardent Chill — engenders —
A realm of Light beyond
The World we know — of Task and Tears —
Of Thorn and Scorn — and Wound
Your cloistered Ecstasies possess
A foretaste of the Next
Illimitable brilliancy
Undimmed — and unsurpassed –