When Emily is in Love
I held a jewel in my fingers And went to sleep. The day was warm, and winds were prosy; I said: "twill keep." I woke and chid my honest fingers, - The gem was gone; And now an amethyst remembrance Is all I own. I envy seas whereon he rides, I envy spokes of wheels Of chariots that him convey, I envy speechless hills That gaze upon his journey; How easy all can sea What is forbidden utterly As heaven, unto me! I envy nests of sparrows That dot his distant eaves, The wealthy fly upon his pane, The happy, happy leaves That just abroad his window Have summer's leave to be, The earrings of Pizarro Could not obtain for me. I envy light that wakes him, And bells that boldly ring To tell him it is noon aborad, - Yet interdict my blossom And abrogate my bee, Lest noon in everlasting night Drop Gabriel and me. from Selected Poems of Emiy Dickinson