Emily DickinsonA precious -- mouldering pleasure -- A precious -- mouldering pleasure -- 'tis -- To meet an Antique Book -- In just the Dress his Century wore -- A privilege -- I think -- His venerable Hand to take -- And warming in our own -- A passage back -- or two -- to make -- To Times when he -- was young -- His quaint opinions -- to inspect -- His thought to ascertain On Themes concern our mutual mind -- The Literature of Man -- What interested Scholars -- most -- What Competitions ran -- When Plato -- was a Certainty -- And Sophocles -- a Man -- When Sappho -- was a living Girl -- And Beatrice wore The Gown that Dante -- deified -- Facts Centuries before He traverses -- familiar -- As One should come to Town -- And tell you all your Dreams -- were true -- He lived -- where Dreams were born -- His presence is Enchantment -- You beg him not to go -- Old Volumes shake their Vellum Heads And tantalize -- just so -- |
