Emily Dickinson - Letter 238 (summer 1861 - Franklin: late 1859-about 1861) Susan Gilbert Dickinson lyrics

(A) Safe in their Alabaster Chambers - Untouched by Morning And untouched by Noon - Sleep the meek members of the Resurrection - Rafter of satin, And Roof of stone. Light laughs the breeze In her Castle above them - Babbles the Bee in a stolid Ear, Pipe the Sweet Birds in ignorant cadence - Ah, what sagacity perished here! ______________________________________________________ (B) Safe in their Alabaster Chambers - Untouched by Morning - And untouched by Noon - Lie the meek members of the Resurrection - Rafter of Satin - and Roof of Stone - Grand go the Years - in the Crescent - above them - Worlds scoop their Arcs - And Firmaments - row - Diadems - drop - and Doges - surrender - Soundless as dots - on a Disc of Snow - Perhaps this verse would please you better - Sue - Emily - ______________________________________________________ (C) (Susan Dickinson to ED) I am not suited dear Emily with the second verse - It is remarkable as the chain lightening that blinds us hot nights in the Southern sky but it does not go with the ghostly shimmer of the first verse as well as the other one - It just occurs to me that the first verse is complete in itself it needs no other, and can't be coupled - Strange things always go alone - as there is only one Gabriel and one Sun - You never made a peer for that verse, and I guess your kingdom does'nt hold one - I always go to the fire and get warm after thinking of it, but I never can again - The flowers are sweet and bright and look as if they would kiss one - ah, they expect a humming-bird - Thanks for them of course - and not thanks only recognition either - Did it ever occur to you that is all there is here after all - "Lord that I may receive my sight" - Susan is tired making bibs for her bird - her ring-dove - he will paint my cheeks when I am old to pay me - Sue - Pony Express ______________________________________________________ (D) Is this frostier? Springs - shake the Sills - But - the Echoes - stiffen - Hoar - is the Window - and numb - the Door - Tribes of Eclipse - in Tents of Marble - Staples of Ages - have buckled - there - Dear Sue - Your praise is good - to me - because I know it knows - and suppose it means - Could I make you and Austin - proud - sometime - a great way off - 'twould give me taller feet - Here is a crumb - for the "Ring dove"- and a spray, for his Nest, a little while ago - just - "Sue." - Emily.