Soul take the risk
with Death to be,
were better than be not
with Thee.
Beauty crowds me til I die,
Beauty mercy have on me,
but if I expire today -
let it be in sight of thee.
324
Some keep the Sabbath going to Church -
I keep it, staying at Home -
with a Bobolink for a chorister -
and an orchard, for a dome-

Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice -
I just wear my Wings -
and instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,
our little Sexton - sings.

God preaches, a noted Clergyman -
and the sermon is never long,
So, instead of getting to Heaven, at last -
I am going, all along.
288
I'm Nobody! Who are you?
Are you - Nobody - Too?
Then there's a pair of us?
Don't tell! they'd advertise - you know!

How dreary - to be - Somebody!
How public - like a frog -
To tell one's name - the livelong June -
To an admiring Bog!
EMILY DICKINSON
1830 - 1886
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
or cool one pain,
or help one fainting robin
unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
"Hope" is the thing with feathers -
that perches in the soul -
and sings the tune without the words -
and never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
and sore must be the storm -
that could abash the little Bird
that kept so many warm -

I've heard it in the chillest land -
and on the strangest Sea -
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of Me.
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