I Dreaded That First Robin, So

Emily Dickinson

348

I dreaded that first Robin, so,
But He is mastered, now,
I’m accustomed to Him grown,
He hurts a little, though—

I thought If I could only live
Till that first Shout got by—
Not all Pianos in the Woods
Had power to mangle me—

I dared not meet the Daffodils—
For fear their Yellow Gown
Would pierce me with a fashion
So foreign to my own—

I wished the Grass would hurry—
So—when ’twas time to see—
He’d be too tall, the tallest one
Could stretch—to look at me—

I could not bear the Bees should come,
I wished they’d stay away
In those dim countries where they go,
What word had they, for me?

They’re here, though; not a creature failed—
No Blossom stayed away
In gentle deference to me—
The Queen of Calvary—

Each one salutes me, as he goes,
And I, my childish Plumes,
Lift, in bereaved acknowledgment
Of their unthinking Drums—

Next 10 Poems

• Emily Dickinson : I Dwell In Possibility
• Emily Dickinson : I Envy Seas, Whereon He Rides
• Emily Dickinson : I Fear A Man Of Frugal Speech
• Emily Dickinson : I Felt A Cleaving In My Mind
• Emily Dickinson : I Felt A Funeral In My Brain,
• Emily Dickinson : I Felt My Life With Both My Hands
• Emily Dickinson : I Fit For Them-
• Emily Dickinson : I Found The Phrase To Every Thought
• Emily Dickinson : I Found The Words To Every Thought
• Emily Dickinson : I Gained It So

Previous 10 Poems

• Emily Dickinson : I Died For Beauty But Was Scarce
• Emily Dickinson : I Did Not Reach Thee
• Emily Dickinson : I Cross Till I Am Weary
• Emily Dickinson : I Cried At Pity-not At Pain
• Emily Dickinson : I Could Suffice For Him, I Knew
• Emily Dickinson : I Could Not Prove The Years Had Feet
• Emily Dickinson : I Could Not Drink It, Sweet
• Emily Dickinson : I Could Die-to Know
• Emily Dickinson : I Could Bring You Jewels-had I A Mind To
• Emily Dickinson : I Cautious, Scanned My Little Life