Poetessa, nato venerdì 10 dicembre 1830 a Amherst, Massachusetts (USA - Stati Uniti d'America), morto sabato 15 maggio 1886 a Amherst, Massachusetts (USA - Stati Uniti d'America)
Years - had been - from Home - And now - before the Door - I dared not open - lest a face I never saw before Stare vacant into mine - And ask my Business there - My Business - just a Life I left - Was such - still dwelling there?
I fumbled at my nerve - I scanned the Windows o'er - The Silence - like an Ocean rolled - And broke against my Ear -
I laughed a Wooden laugh - That I - could fear a Door - Who Danger - and the Dead - had faced - But never shook - before -
I fitted to the Latch - My Hand - With trembling Care Lest back the Awful Door should spring - And leave me - in the Floor -
I moved my fingers off, as cautiously as Glass - And held my Ears - and like a Thief Stole - gasping - from the House -
Paura! Di chi ho paura? Non della Morte - perché chi è Costei? Il Portiere della casa di mio Padre Allo stesso modo m'intimidisce! Della Vita? Sarebbe strano ch'io temessi una cosa Che è parte integrante di me In una o due esistenze - A seconda del caso -
Della Risurrezione? Ha l'Est Paura di affidare al Mattino La sua fronte schizzinosa? Tanto varrebbe ricusare la mia Corona.
Afraid! Of whom am I afraid? Not Death - for who is He? The Porter of my Father's Lodge As much abasheth me! Of Life? 'Twere odd I fear a thing That comprehendeth me In one or two existences - Just as the case may be -
Of Resurrection? Is the East Afraid to trust the Morn With her fastidious forehead? As soon impeach my Crown.
Of nearness to her sundered Things The Soul has special times - When Dimness - looks the Oddity - Distinctness - easy - seems - The Shapes we buried, dwell about, Familiar, in the Rooms - Untarnished by the Sepulchre, The Mouldering Playmate comes -
In just the Jacket that he wore - Long buttoned in the Mold Since we - old mornings, Children - played - Divided - by a world -
The Grave yields back her Robberies - The Years, our pilfered Things - Bright Knots of Apparitions Salute us, with their wings -
As we - it were - that perished - Themself - had just remained till we rejoin them - And 'twas they, and not ourself That mourned.
The Trees like Tassels - hit - and swung - There seemed to rise a Tune From Miniature Creatures Accompanying the Sun - Far Psalteries of Summer - Enamoring the Ear They never yet did satisfy - Remotest - when most fair
The Sun shone whole at intervals - Then Half - then utter hid - As if Himself were optional And had Estates of Cloud
Sufficient to enfold Him Eternally from view - Except it were a whim of His To let the Orchards grow -
A Bird sat careless on the fence - One gossipped in the Lane On silver matters charmed a Snake Just winding round a Stone -
Bright Flowers slit a Calyx And soared upon a Stem Like Hindered Flags - Sweet hoisted - With Spices - in the Hem -
'Twas more - I cannot mention - How mean - to those that see - Vandyke's Delineation Of Nature's - Summer Day!
The Spider holds a Silver Ball In unperceived Hands - And dancing softly as He knits His Coil of Pearl - unwinds - He plies from Nought to Nought - In unsubstantial Trade - Supplants our Tapestries with His - In half the period -
An Hour to rear supreme His Theories of Light - Then dangle from the Housewife's Broom - His Sophistries - forgot.
Unto my Books - so good to turn - Far ends of tired Days - It half endears the Abstinence - And Pain - is missed - in Praise - As Flavors - cheer Retarded Guests With Banquettings to be - So Spices - stimulate the time Till my small Library -
It may be Wilderness - without - Far feet of failing Men - But Holiday - excludes the night - And it is Bells - within -
I thank these Kinsmen of the Shelf - Their Countenances Kid Enamor - in Prospective - And satisfy - obtained.
He found my Being - set it up - Adjusted it to place - Then carved his name - upon it - And bade it to the East Be faithful - in his absence - And he would come again - With Equipage of Amber - That time - to take it Home.
Of Brussels - it was not - Of Kidderminster? Nay - The Winds did buy it of the Woods - Then - sell it unto me It was a gentle price - The poorest - could afford - It was within the frugal purse Of Beggar - or of Bird -
Of small and spicy Breadths - In hue - a mellow Dun - Of Sunshine - and of Sere - Composed - But, principally - of Sun -
The Wind - unrolled it fast - And spread it on the Ground - Upholsterer of the Pines - is He - Upholsterer - of the Pond.
A still - Volcano - Life - That flickered in the night - When it was dark enough to do Without erasing sight - A quiet - Earthquake Style - Too subtle to suspect By natures this side Naples - The North cannot detect
The Solemn - Torrid - Symbol - The lips that never lie - Whose hissing Corals part - and shut - And Cities - ooze away.