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Emily Dickinson's Collected Poems

Part Four: Time and Eternity 11. How many times these low feet staggered

"TROUBLED ABOUT MANY THINGS."


How many times these low feet staggered,

Only the soldered mouth can tell;

Try! can you stir the awful rivet?

Try! can you lift the hasps of steel?


Stroke the cool forehead, hot so often,

Lift, if you can, the listless hair;

Handle the adamantine fingers

Never a thimble more shall wear.


Buzz the dull flies on the chamber window;

Brave shines the sun through the freckled pane;

Fearless the cobweb swings from the ceiling --

Indolent housewife, in daisies lain!