If I may have it, when it's dead

If I may have it, when it's dead, (1896)
by Emily Dickinson
577
5821If I may have it, when it's dead, — 577Emily Dickinson

If I may have it, when it's dead,
I'll be contented — so —
If just as soon as Breath is out
It shall belong to me —

Until they lock it in the Grave,
'Tis Bliss I cannot weigh —
For tho' they lock Thee in the Grave,
Myself — can own the key —

Think of it Lover! I and Thee
Permitted — face to face to be —
After a Life — a Death — We'll say —
For Death was That —
And this — is Thee —

I'll tell Thee All — how Bald it grew —
How Midnight felt, at first — to me —
How all the Clocks stopped in the World —
And Sunshine pinched me — 'Twas so cold —

Then how the Grief got sleepy — some —
As if my Soul were deaf and dumb —
Just making signs — across — to Thee —
That this way — thou could'st notice me —

I'll tell you how I tried to keep
A smile, to show you, when this Deep
All Waded — We look back for Play,
At those Old Times — in Calvary,

Forgive me, if the Grave come slow —
For Coveting to look at Thee —
Forgive me, if to stroke thy frost
Outvisions Paradise!

Poetry by Emily Dickinson (edit list):
By letter of the alphabet: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, Y.
By Johnson's index number 1-99, 100-199, 200-299, 300-399, 400-499, 500-599, 600-699, 700-799, 800-899, 900-999, 1000-1099, 1100-1199, 1200-1299, 1300-1399, 1400-1499, 1500-1599, 1600-1699, 1700-1775.