Emily Dickinson, Marry Me — revised
Posted: 10 Oct 2019, 20:34
V5:
Emily Dickinson, Marry Me
I.
Emily, isn't my love as obvious
as an open field? So I ask again, Why delay
getting married? I fear if we wait
I will lose you.
Coming over today, I saw wild mares
in the hills, moving in unison,
turning their shy faces away from me.
They reminded me of you.
Emily, I long to tame one
--to throw my arms
around her neck in a long embrace.
Yet I fear her hesitation
if my forehead touches hers,
her hooves stamping nervously
in place, at any moment
about to shake me loose
as she would a burr
from her wild mane.
II.
I apologize for my first proposal—
impulsively showing up
in your house, the womenfolk as alarmed
by my arrival as birds
in trees by lightning.
Your sister Vinnie flew
from room to room trying to find you.
I half expected the floor
to be strewn with feathers
by the time you appeared
on the stairs—shaken,
your dress agitated,
as if an unsettling gust
had burst through an open window.
“I’ve come to take you
with me, Emily. It’s time
you wore a wedding ring.
Family iIlnesses have come between us
for too long. Happiness,
like a bride’s tossed bouquet,
must be seized. If we miss
our chance, it may not come again.”
Was it your mother upstairs,
sick, that held you back?
Indecisive, you swayed,
as if about to faint.
"I won’t take No for an answer.”
“No,” you finally said, tearing up
—your voice distraught
like a tethered bird’s
V4:
note: I would like to thank Judy for her great help on this....I think her version works better...what do you think?
Emily Dickinson, Marry Me
Today I saw wild mares in the hills
moving in unison,
turning their faces away in shyness
when they saw me
They reminded me of you;
I long to tame one
--to throw my arms
around her neck in a long embrace,
yet I fear her hesitation
if my forehead touches hers,
her feet stamping nervously
in place, at any moment
about to shake me loose
as she would a burr
from her wild mane
V3:
Emily Dickinson, Marry Me
Emily, isn't my love as obvious
as an open field? Why delay
getting married? My heart is big
like my house, waiting for you.
Today, coming over, I saw
wild mares in the hills
moving in unison, pausing,
changing directions rapidly
turning their faces away
at a mere glance.
Emily, I long to tame one
--to throw my arms
around her neck in a long embrace.
Yet I fear her hesitation
if my forehead touches hers,
her hooves stamping nervously
in place, at any moment
about to shake me loose
as she would a burr
from her wild
mane
V2:
Emily Dickinson, Marry Me
Emily, isn't my love as obvious
as an open field? There is no reason
to postpone. My heart is big
like my house, waiting for you
--servants at your beckoning.
You are naturally timid,
but why delay?
It can be a small wedding,
if that is what you want, dearest.
I'm afraid if we wait I'll lose you.
Today, coming over, I saw
wild mares in the hills
moving in unison, pausing,
changing directions rapidly
turning their faces away
at a mere glance.
Emily, I long to tame one
--to throw my arms
around her neck in a long embrace.
Yet I fear her hesitation
if my forehead touches hers,
her hooves stamping nervously
in place, at any moment
about to shake me loose
as she would a burr
from her wild
mane
V1:
Emily Dickinson, Marry Me
Emily, isn't my love as obvious
as an open field? There is no reason
to postpone. My heart is big
like my house, waiting for you
--servants at your beckoning.
You are naturally timid,
shy as a filly. But why delay?
It can be a small wedding,
if that is what you want, dearest.
I'm afraid if we wait I'll lose you.
Today, coming over, I saw
wild mares in the hills
moving in unison, pausing,
changing directions rapidly.
Their big eyes flashed like women
with a sixth sense about the dangers of men,
turning their faces away
at a mere glance.
Emily, I long to tame one
--to throw my arms
around her neck in a long embrace.
Yet I fear her hesitation
if my forehead touches hers,
her feet stamping nervously
in place, at any moment
about to shake me loose
as she would a burr
from her wild
mane
Emily Dickinson, Marry Me
I.
Emily, isn't my love as obvious
as an open field? So I ask again, Why delay
getting married? I fear if we wait
I will lose you.
Coming over today, I saw wild mares
in the hills, moving in unison,
turning their shy faces away from me.
They reminded me of you.
Emily, I long to tame one
--to throw my arms
around her neck in a long embrace.
Yet I fear her hesitation
if my forehead touches hers,
her hooves stamping nervously
in place, at any moment
about to shake me loose
as she would a burr
from her wild mane.
II.
I apologize for my first proposal—
impulsively showing up
in your house, the womenfolk as alarmed
by my arrival as birds
in trees by lightning.
Your sister Vinnie flew
from room to room trying to find you.
I half expected the floor
to be strewn with feathers
by the time you appeared
on the stairs—shaken,
your dress agitated,
as if an unsettling gust
had burst through an open window.
“I’ve come to take you
with me, Emily. It’s time
you wore a wedding ring.
Family iIlnesses have come between us
for too long. Happiness,
like a bride’s tossed bouquet,
must be seized. If we miss
our chance, it may not come again.”
Was it your mother upstairs,
sick, that held you back?
Indecisive, you swayed,
as if about to faint.
"I won’t take No for an answer.”
“No,” you finally said, tearing up
—your voice distraught
like a tethered bird’s
V4:
note: I would like to thank Judy for her great help on this....I think her version works better...what do you think?
Emily Dickinson, Marry Me
Today I saw wild mares in the hills
moving in unison,
turning their faces away in shyness
when they saw me
They reminded me of you;
I long to tame one
--to throw my arms
around her neck in a long embrace,
yet I fear her hesitation
if my forehead touches hers,
her feet stamping nervously
in place, at any moment
about to shake me loose
as she would a burr
from her wild mane
V3:
Emily Dickinson, Marry Me
Emily, isn't my love as obvious
as an open field? Why delay
getting married? My heart is big
like my house, waiting for you.
Today, coming over, I saw
wild mares in the hills
moving in unison, pausing,
changing directions rapidly
turning their faces away
at a mere glance.
Emily, I long to tame one
--to throw my arms
around her neck in a long embrace.
Yet I fear her hesitation
if my forehead touches hers,
her hooves stamping nervously
in place, at any moment
about to shake me loose
as she would a burr
from her wild
mane
V2:
Emily Dickinson, Marry Me
Emily, isn't my love as obvious
as an open field? There is no reason
to postpone. My heart is big
like my house, waiting for you
--servants at your beckoning.
You are naturally timid,
but why delay?
It can be a small wedding,
if that is what you want, dearest.
I'm afraid if we wait I'll lose you.
Today, coming over, I saw
wild mares in the hills
moving in unison, pausing,
changing directions rapidly
turning their faces away
at a mere glance.
Emily, I long to tame one
--to throw my arms
around her neck in a long embrace.
Yet I fear her hesitation
if my forehead touches hers,
her hooves stamping nervously
in place, at any moment
about to shake me loose
as she would a burr
from her wild
mane
V1:
Emily Dickinson, Marry Me
Emily, isn't my love as obvious
as an open field? There is no reason
to postpone. My heart is big
like my house, waiting for you
--servants at your beckoning.
You are naturally timid,
shy as a filly. But why delay?
It can be a small wedding,
if that is what you want, dearest.
I'm afraid if we wait I'll lose you.
Today, coming over, I saw
wild mares in the hills
moving in unison, pausing,
changing directions rapidly.
Their big eyes flashed like women
with a sixth sense about the dangers of men,
turning their faces away
at a mere glance.
Emily, I long to tame one
--to throw my arms
around her neck in a long embrace.
Yet I fear her hesitation
if my forehead touches hers,
her feet stamping nervously
in place, at any moment
about to shake me loose
as she would a burr
from her wild
mane