Emily Dickinson: Four Poems having Kate Scott Turner in Mind

Emily Dickinson and Kate Scott Turner
unauthenticated portrait, c. 1859
(image source: wiki)
no copyright infringement intended

1.

Heart, not so heavy as mine

Wending late home -

As it passed my window

Whistled itself a tune -

A careless snatch - a ballad -

A ditty of the street -

Yet to my irritated Ear

An Anodyne so sweet -

It was as if a Bobolink

Sauntering this way

Carolled, and paused, and carolled -

Then bubbled slow away!

It was as if a chirping brook

Upon a dusty way -

Set bleeding feet to minuets

Without the knowing why!

Tomorrow, night will come again -

Perhaps, weary and sore -

Ah Bugle! By my window

I pray you pass once more.

(archive Emily Dickinson)

2.

It cant be "Summer"!

That - got through!

It's early - yet- for "Spring"!

There's that long town of White - to cross -

Before the Blackbirds sing!

It cant be "Dying"!

It's too Rouge -

The Dead shall go in White -

So Sunet shuts my question down

With Cuffs of Chrysolite!

(archive Emily Dickinson)

3.

When Katie walks, this simple pair accompany her side,

When Katie runs unwearied they follow on the road,

When Katie kneels, their loving hands still clasp her pious knee -

Ah! Katie! Smile at Fortune, with two so knit to thee!

(archive Emily Dickinson)

4.

There are two Ripenings - one - of sight -

Whose forces Spheric wind

Until the Velvet product

Drop spicy to the ground -

A homelier maturing -

A process in the Bur -

That teeth of Frosts alone disclose

In far October Air.

(archive Emily Dickinson)

(Emily Dickinson)