Sad poems

Sad poems — a collection of the best works on PoemShip.

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Emily Dickinson

A great Hope fell

A great Hope fell You heard no noise The Ruin was within Oh cunning wreck that told no tale And let no Witness in The mind was built for mighty Freight For dread occasion planned How often foundering at Sea Ostensibly, on Land A not admitting of the wound Until it grew so wide That all my Life had entered it And there were troughs beside A closing of the simple lid That opened to the sun Until the tender Carpenter

Emily Dickinson

I tend my flowers for thee

I tend my flowers for thee -- Bright Absentee! My Fuchsia's Coral Seams Rip -- while the Sower -- dreams -- Geraniums -- tint -- and spot -- Low Daisies -- dot -- My Cactus -- splits her Beard To show her throat -- Carnations -- tip their spice -- And Bees -- pick up -- A Hyacinth -- I hid -- Puts out a Ruffled Head -- And odors fall From flasks -- so small -- You marvel how they held -- Globe Roses -- break their satin glake --

Emily Dickinson

Absent Place -- an April Day --

Absent Place -- an April Day -- Daffodils a-blow Homesick curiosity To the Souls that snow -- Drift may block within it Deeper than without -- Daffodil delight but Him it duplicate --

Emily Dickinson

So give me back to Death --

So give me back to Death -- The Death I never feared Except that it deprived of thee -- And now, by Life deprived, In my own Grave I breathe And estimate its size -- Its size is all that Hell can guess -- And all that Heaven was --

Emily Dickinson

Ourselves were wed one summer -- dear --

Ourselves were wed one summer -- dear -- Your Vision -- was in June -- And when Your little Lifetime failed, I wearied -- too -- of mine -- And overtaken in the Dark -- Where You had put me down -- By Some one carrying a Light -- I -- too -- received the Sign. 'Tis true -- Our Futures different lay -- Your Cottage -- faced the sun -- While Oceans -- and the North must be -- On every side of mine 'Tis true, Your Garden led the Bloom, For mine -- in Frosts -- was sown -- And yet, one Summer, we were Queens -- But You -- were crowned in June --

Emily Dickinson

How happy I was if I could forget

How happy I was if I could forget To remember how sad I am Would be an easy adversity But the recollecting of Bloom Keeps making November difficult Till I who was almost bold Lose my way like a little Child And perish of the cold.

Emily Dickinson

He told a homely tale

He told a homely tale And spotted it with tears -- Upon his infant face was set The Cicatrice of years -- All crumpled was the cheek No other kiss had known Than flake of snow, divided with The Redbreast of the Barn -- If Mother -- in the Grave -- Or Father -- on the Sea -- Or Father in the Firmament -- Or Brethren, had he -- If Commonwealth below, Or Commonwealth above Have missed a Barefoot Citizen -- I've ransomed it -- alive --

Emily Dickinson

It would have starved a Gnat --

It would have starved a Gnat -- To live so small as I -- And yet I was a living Child -- With Food's necessity Upon me -- like a Claw -- I could no more remove Than I could coax a Leech away -- Or make a Dragon -- move -- Not like the Gnat -- had I -- The privilege to fly And seek a Dinner for myself -- How mightier He -- than I -- Nor like Himself -- the Art Upon the Window Pane To gad my little Being out -- And not begin -- again --

Emily Dickinson

I got so I could take his name

I got so I could take his name -- Without -- Tremendous gain -- That Stop-sensation -- on my Soul -- And Thunder -- in the Room -- I got so I could walk across That Angle in the floor, Where he turned so, and I turned -- how -- And all our Sinew tore -- I got so I could stir the Box -- In which his letters grew Without that forcing, in my breath -- As Staples -- driven through -- Could dimly recollect a Grace -- I think, they call it "God" -- Renowned to ease Extremity -- When Formula, had failed --

Emily Dickinson

A Pang is more conspicuous in Spring

A Pang is more conspicuous in Spring In contrast with the things that sing Not Birds entirely -- but Minds -- Minute Effulgencies and Winds -- When what they sung for is undone Who cares about a Blue Bird's Tune -- Why, Resurrection had to wait Till they had moved a Stone --

Emily Dickinson

If I'm lost -- now

If I'm lost -- now That I was found -- Shall still my transport be -- That once -- on me -- those Jasper Gates Blazed open -- suddenly -- That in my awkward -- gazing -- face -- The Angels -- softly peered -- And touched me with their fleeces, Almost as if they cared -- I'm banished -- now -- you know it -- How foreign that can be -- You'll know -- Sir -- when the Savior's face Turns so -- away from you --

Emily Dickinson

How the Waters closed above Him

How the Waters closed above Him We shall never know -- How He stretched His Anguish to us That -- is covered too -- Spreads the Pond Her Base of Lilies Bold above the Boy Whose unclaimed Hat and Jacket Sum the History --

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