I Years Had Been From Home,

Emily Dickinson

I years had been from home,
And now, before the door,
I dared not open, lest a face
I never saw before

Stare vacant into mine
And ask my business there.
My business,--just a life I left,
Was such still dwelling there?

I fumbled at my nerve,
I scanned the windows near;
The silence like an ocean rolled,
And broke against my ear.

I laughed a wooden laugh
That I could fear a door,
Who danger and the dead had faced,
But never quaked before.

I fitted to the latch
My hand, with trembling care,
Lest back the awful door should spring,
And leave me standing there.

I moved my fingers off
As cautiously as glass,
And held my ears, and like a thief
Fled gasping from the house.

Next 10 Poems

• Emily Dickinson : I'd Rather Recollect A Setting
• Emily Dickinson : Ideals Are The Fairly Oil
• Emily Dickinson : If All The Griefs I Am To Have
• Emily Dickinson : If Any Sink, Assure That This, Now Standing
• Emily Dickinson : If Anybody's Friend Be Dead
• Emily Dickinson : If Blame Be My Side-forfeit Me
• Emily Dickinson : If Ever The Lid Gets Off My Head
• Emily Dickinson : If He Dissolve-then-there Is Nothing
• Emily Dickinson : If He Were Living-dare I Ask
• Emily Dickinson : If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking,

Previous 10 Poems

• Emily Dickinson : I Would Not Paint-a Picture
• Emily Dickinson : I Would Distil A Cup
• Emily Dickinson : I Worked For Chaff And Earning Wheat
• Emily Dickinson : I Went To Thank Her
• Emily Dickinson : I Went To Heaven,--
• Emily Dickinson : I Watcher Her Face To See Which Way
• Emily Dickinson : I Watched The Moon Around The House
• Emily Dickinson : I Was The Slightest In The House
• Emily Dickinson : I Was A Phoebe-nothing More-
• Emily Dickinson : I Want-it Pleaded-all Its Life