Laurel · Emily Dickinson

Poems

Emily Dickinson (1830–1886) · 1890–1896

Common measure: quatrains alternating iambic tetrameter and trimeter · 5,443 lines in 448 sections

The three series of Dickinson's poems as first published in the 1890s.

Measured across the book

Across its 5,443 lines, 94% of stressed syllables fall on the beat (95% interval 94% to 95%). Alliteration runs at 1.05 times what shuffling the words would give (0.18 observed against 0.17 expected). 28% of the lines have a feminine ending.

Baselines and intervals are described in the methods.

Contents

This is my letter to the worldcommon measure · 8 lines Successcommon measure · 12 lines Our share of night to beartrochaic tetrameter · 8 lines Rouge Et Noirtrochaic trimeter · 8 lines Rouge Gagneiambic tetrameter · 18 lines Glee! the great storm is over16 lines If I can stop one heart from breakingAABB · 7 lines Almost!iambic trimeter · 9 lines A wounded deer leaps highestshort measure · 12 lines The heart asks pleasure firstshort measure · 8 lines In a Librarycommon measure · 28 lines Much madness is divinest senseiambic tetrameter · 8 lines I asked no other thingshort measure · 8 lines Exclusion12 lines The Secretiambic trimeter · 9 lines The Lonely House40 lines To fight aloud is very bravecommon measure · 12 lines Dawniambic tetrameter · 8 lines The Book of Martyrsiambic trimeter · 16 lines The Mystery of Paincommon measure · 8 lines I taste a liquor never brewedcommon measure · 16 lines A Bookiambic tetrameter · 8 lines I had no time to hate, becausecommon measure · 8 lines Unreturningcommon measure · 8 lines Whether my bark went down at seacommon measure · 8 lines Belshazzar had a letter, —iambic tetrameter · 8 lines The brain within its grooveiambic trimeter · 8 lines Minetrochaic pentameter · 8 lines Bequestcommon measure · 8 lines Alter? When the hills dotrochaic trimeter · 8 lines Suspensecommon measure · 8 lines Surrenderiambic trimeter · 17 lines If you were coming in the fallcommon measure · 20 lines With a Flowercommon measure · 8 lines Proofiambic dimeter · unrhymed · 12 lines Have you got a brook in your little heartiambic tetrameter · 16 lines Transplantediambic trimeter · 12 lines The Outletiambic trimeter · AABB · 8 lines In Vainiambic dimeter · 51 lines Renunciationcommon measure · 28 lines Love's Baptismiambic tetrameter · unrhymed · 19 lines Resurrectionshort measure · unrhymed · 16 lines Apocalypseiambic trimeter · 12 lines The Wifecommon measure · 12 lines Apotheosistrochaic trimeter · 8 lines New feet within my garden gocommon measure · 8 lines May-Flowerdactylic dimeter · 12 lines Why?iambic trimeter · AABB · 15 lines Perhaps you'd like to buy a flowercommon measure · 10 lines The pedigree of honey4 lines A Service of Song12 lines The bee is not afraid of mecommon measure · 8 lines Summer's Armiesiambic tetrameter · AABCCB · 24 lines The Grasscommon measure · 20 lines A little road not made of mancommon measure · 8 lines Summer Showercommon measure · 16 lines Psalm of the Dayiambic tetrameter · AABB · 33 lines The Sea of Sunsettrochaic pentameter · 8 lines Purple Clovershort measure · 32 lines The Beecommon measure · 16 lines Presentiment is that long shadow on the lawnAABB · 4 lines As children bid the guest good-nightcommon measure · 8 lines Angels in the early morningtrochaic tetrameter · AABB · 8 lines So bashful when I spied hercommon measure · 12 lines Two Worldscommon measure · 12 lines The Mountaincommon measure · 8 lines A Daycommon measure · 16 lines The butterfly's assumption-gowniambic tetrameter · 6 lines The Windcommon measure · 21 lines Death and Lifeiambic tetrameter · 8 lines 't WAS later when the summer wentcommon measure · 8 lines Indian Summeriambic tetrameter · 18 lines Autumncommon measure · 8 lines Becloudedcommon measure · 8 lines The Hemlockcommon measure · unrhymed · 16 lines There's a certain slant of lighttrochaic trimeter · 16 lines One dignity delays for alliambic trimeter · 16 lines Too Lateiambic tetrameter · AABCCB · 18 lines Astra Castracommon measure · unrhymed · 8 lines Safe in their alabaster chambers12 lines On this long storm the rainbow rosecommon measure · 12 lines From the Chrysaliscommon measure · 12 lines Setting Sailtrochaic tetrameter · 8 lines Look back on time with kindly eyes4 lines A train went through a burial gatecommon measure · 8 lines I died for beauty, but was scarcecommon measure · 12 lines "Troubled About Many Things"trochaic pentameter · 12 lines Realcommon measure · unrhymed · 8 lines The Funeralshort measure · 8 lines I went to thank her10 lines I've seen a dying eyeiambic trimeter · 8 lines Refugeiambic tetrameter · unrhymed · 8 lines I never saw a moorshort measure · 8 lines Playmatestrochaic tetrameter · 8 lines To know just how he suffered would be dear26 lines The last night that she livedshort measure · 24 lines The First Lessoniambic tetrameter · AABCCB · 12 lines The bustle in a houseshort measure · 8 lines I reason, earth is shortiambic trimeter · 12 lines Afraid? of whom am I afraidcommon measure · 12 lines Dyingcommon measure · 16 lines Two swimmers wrestled on the sparcommon measure · 8 lines The Chariotcommon measure · 20 lines She went as quiet as the dewcommon measure · 8 lines Resurgamiambic tetrameter · 6 lines Except to heaven, she is noughtcommon measure · 12 lines Death is a dialogue betweencommon measure · 8 lines It was too late for maniambic tetrameter · 8 lines Along the Potomaccommon measure · 16 lines The daisy follows soft the suniambic tetrameter · 12 lines Emancipationiambic trimeter · 16 lines Lostcommon measure · 8 lines If I shouldn't be aliveiambic trimeter · 8 lines Sleep is supposed to beiambic trimeter · 15 lines I shall know why, when time is overiambic tetrameter · 8 lines I never lost as much but twicetrochaic trimeter · 8 lines Amherst, Massachusetts, August, I891common measure · unrhymed · 8 lines I'm nobody! Who are youcommon measure · 8 lines I bring an unaccustomed wineiambic tetrameter · 21 lines The nearest dream recedes, unrealizediambic trimeter · 14 lines We play at pasteiambic trimeter · 8 lines I found the phrase to every thoughtcommon measure · 8 lines Hopecommon measure · 12 lines The White Heatcommon measure · 16 lines Triumphantiambic trimeter · 16 lines The Testtrochaic trimeter · 16 lines Escapecommon measure · unrhymed · 8 lines Compensationshort measure · 8 lines The Martyrscommon measure · 12 lines A Prayercommon measure · 28 lines The thought beneath so slight a film4 lines The soul unto itselfshort measure · 8 lines Surgeons must be very careful4 lines The Railway Traincommon measure · unrhymed · 16 lines The Showiambic dimeter · AABB · 6 lines Delight becomes pictorialiambic tetrameter · 8 lines A thought went up my mind to-daycommon measure · 12 lines Is Heaven a physicianiambic trimeter · 8 lines The Returniambic tetrameter · 13 lines A poor torn heart, a tattered heartiambic tetrameter · 16 lines Too Muchiambic tetrameter · 24 lines Shipwreckiambic dimeter · 13 lines Victory comes late16 lines Enoughiambic tetrameter · unrhymed · 16 lines Experiment to meshort measure · 8 lines My Country's Wardrobecommon measure · 8 lines Faith is a fine invention4 lines Except the heaven had come so nearcommon measure · 8 lines Portraits are to daily faces4 lines The Duelcommon measure · unrhymed · 8 lines A shady friend for torrid dayscommon measure · 12 lines The Goal20 lines Sightcommon measure · unrhymed · 20 lines Talk with prudence to a beggartrochaic tetrameter · 8 lines The Preacheranapaestic common measure · 8 lines Good night! which put the candle outiambic tetrameter · 12 lines When I hoped I fearedtrochaic trimeter · 8 lines Deedshort measure · 8 lines Time's Lessoncommon measure · 8 lines Remorsecommon measure · 12 lines The Sheltershort measure · 8 lines Undue significance a starving man attaches8 lines Heart not so heavy as minecommon measure · 20 lines I many times thought peace had comecommon measure · 8 lines Unto my books so good to turncommon measure · 16 lines This merit hath the worst, —iambic trimeter · 8 lines Hungercommon measure · 20 lines I gained it soiambic dimeter · 15 lines To learn the transport by the paincommon measure · 16 lines Returningshort measure · 24 lines Prayeriambic dimeter · 8 lines I know that he existsiambic trimeter · 16 lines Melodies Unheardiambic tetrameter · 18 lines Called Back19 lines Choicecommon measure · 12 lines I have no life but thisiambic trimeter · 8 lines Your riches taught me povertycommon measure · 32 lines The Contractshort measure · 16 lines The Lettertrochaic pentameter · 24 lines The way I read a letter 's thiscommon measure · 16 lines Wild nights! Wild nightstrochaic dimeter · 12 lines At Homeshort measure · 20 lines Possessiontrochaic tetrameter · 8 lines A charm invests a faceshort measure · 8 lines The Loverscommon measure · 16 lines In lands I never saw, they saycommon measure · 8 lines The moon is distant from the seacommon measure · 12 lines He put the belt around my life, —iambic tetrameter · 16 lines The Lost Jeweliambic pentameter · 8 lines What if I say I shall not waitiambic tetrameter · 12 lines Mother Natureshort measure · 24 lines Out of the Morningtrochaic tetrameter · 12 lines At half-past three a single birdcommon measure · 12 lines Day's Parlorcommon measure · 16 lines The Sun's Wooingcommon measure · 16 lines The Robinshort measure · 12 lines The Butterfly's Daycommon measure · 24 lines The Bluebirdiambic trimeter · 16 lines Apriliambic tetrameter · AABB · 16 lines The Sleeping Flowersshort measure · 28 lines My Rosetrochaic tetrameter · 17 lines The Oriole's Secretiambic trimeter · AABB · 15 lines The Orioleshort measure · 28 lines In Shadowcommon measure · 28 lines The Humming-Birdiambic tetrameter · unrhymed · 8 lines Secretscommon measure · 16 lines Who robbed the woodsiambic trimeter · 9 lines Two Voyagerscommon measure · 12 lines Old-Fashionedcommon measure · 28 lines A Tempestcommon measure · 12 lines The Sea4 lines In the Gardenshort measure · 20 lines The Snakecommon measure · 24 lines The Mushroomcommon measure · unrhymed · 20 lines The Storm17 lines The Spideriambic trimeter · 9 lines I know a place where summer strivescommon measure · 12 lines The one that could repeat the summer dayiambic tetrameter · 9 lines The Wind's Visitshort measure · 20 lines Nature rarer uses yellowtrochaic tetrameter · 8 lines Gossipcommon measure · unrhymed · 8 lines Simplicityiambic tetrameter · 10 lines Storm8 lines The Ratiambic dimeter · 12 lines Frequently the woods are pinktrochaic trimeter · 12 lines A Thunder-Stormcommon measure · unrhymed · 20 lines With Flowerstrochaic trimeter · 8 lines SunsetAABB · 4 lines She sweeps with many-colored broomscommon measure · 12 lines Like mighty footlights burned the redcommon measure · 8 lines Problemsiambic tetrameter · AABCCB · 24 lines The Juggler of Daytrochaic pentameter · 8 lines My Cricketshort measure · 16 lines As imperceptibly as griefshort measure · 16 lines It can't be summer, — that got throughshort measure · 8 lines Summer's Obsequiesiambic trimeter · 19 lines Fringed Gentianiambic tetrameter · 12 lines Novembercommon measure · 16 lines The Snowshort measure · 20 lines The Blue Jaycommon measure · unrhymed · 24 lines Let down the bars, o Deathshort measure · 8 lines Going to heaveniambic trimeter · 27 lines At least to pray is left, is leftcommon measure · 8 lines Epitaphcommon measure · 8 lines Morns like these we partedtrochaic trimeter · 12 lines A death-blow is a life-blow to someAABB · 4 lines I read my sentence steadilycommon measure · 16 lines I have not told my garden yetcommon measure · 16 lines The Battle-Fieldcommon measure · 8 lines The only ghost I ever sawiambic trimeter · 16 lines Some, too fragile for winter windsiambic tetrameter · 12 lines As by the dead we love to sitcommon measure · 8 lines Memorialscommon measure · 20 lines I went to heaven, —dactylic dimeter · 16 lines Their height in heaven comforts notcommon measure · 16 lines There is a shame of noblenesscommon measure · 8 lines Triumphcommon measure · 16 lines Pompless no life can pass awayiambic tetrameter · 8 lines I noticed people disappearedcommon measure · 8 lines Followingshort measure · 20 lines If anybody's friend be deadcommon measure · 24 lines The Journeycommon measure · 12 lines A Country Burialtrochaic trimeter · 8 lines Goingcommon measure · 24 lines Essential oils are wrungshort measure · 8 lines I lived on dread; to those who knowcommon measure · 8 lines If I should dieiambic trimeter · 18 lines At Lengthshort measure · unrhymed · 16 lines Ghostsunrhymed · 20 lines Vanishedcommon measure · 8 lines Precedencecommon measure · 16 lines Goneiambic trimeter · 24 lines Requiemcommon measure · 12 lines What inn is thisiambic trimeter · 10 lines It was not death, for I stood upcommon measure · 24 lines Till the Endiambic tetrameter · 16 lines Voidcommon measure · 8 lines A throe upon the featurescommon measure · AABB · 8 lines Saved!common measure · unrhymed · 16 lines I think just how my shape will risecommon measure · 16 lines The Forgotten Gravetrochaic trimeter · unrhymed · 12 lines Lay this laurel on the oneAABB · 4 lines Mabel Loomis Toddiambic tetrameter · 8 lines Real Richescommon measure · 8 lines Superiority to Fatecommon measure · 8 lines Hopecommon measure · 8 lines Forbidden Fruit I4 lines Forbidden Fruit IIcommon measure · 8 lines A Wordiambic dimeter · 6 lines To venerate the simple daysiambic trimeter · 11 lines Life's Trades4 lines Drowning is not so pitifuliambic trimeter · 12 lines How still the bells in steeples stand4 lines If the foolish call them 'flowers,'trochaic trimeter · 20 lines A Syllable4 lines Partingcommon measure · 8 lines Aspirationcommon measure · 8 lines The Inevitableiambic tetrameter · 12 lines A Bookiambic tetrameter · 8 lines Who has not found the heaven below4 lines A Portraitiambic tetrameter · AABCCB · 6 lines I Had a Guinea Goldeniambic trimeter · 40 lines Saturday Afternooncommon measure · 8 lines Few get enough, — enough is one4 lines Upon the gallows hung a wretchiambic tetrameter · 8 lines The Lost Thoughtcommon measure · 8 lines Reticencecommon measure · 12 lines With Flowersiambic trimeter · 8 lines The farthest thunder that I heardiambic tetrameter · 20 lines On the bleakness of my lottrochaic tetrameter · 8 lines Contrastcommon measure · 8 lines Friendsiambic trimeter · AABB · 6 lines Firecommon measure · 8 lines A Mancommon measure · 8 lines Ventures4 lines Griefscommon measure · 36 lines I have a king who does not speakiambic tetrameter · 18 lines Disenchantmentcommon measure · 8 lines Lost Faithshort measure · 8 lines Lost Joyshort measure · 8 lines I worked for chaff, and earning wheatcommon measure · 8 lines Life, and Death, and Giantstrochaic trimeter · 7 lines Alpine Glowiambic trimeter · 10 lines Remembrancecommon measure · 8 lines To hang our head ostensiblycommon measure · 8 lines The Braincommon measure · 12 lines The bone that has no marrowcommon measure · 12 lines The Pastiambic trimeter · 8 lines To help our bleaker parts4 lines What soft, cherubic creaturescommon measure · 12 lines Desirecommon measure · 8 lines Philosophy4 lines Powercommon measure · 8 lines A modest lot, a fame petiteiambic tetrameter · 6 lines Is bliss, then, such abyss11 lines Experienceshort measure · unrhymed · 8 lines Thanksgiving Daytrochaic tetrameter · 16 lines Childish Griefscommon measure · 8 lines Consecration4 lines Love's Humilitycommon measure · 12 lines Poems4 lines Satisfiedcommon measure · 20 lines With a Flowercommon measure · 8 lines Songshort measure · unrhymed · 8 lines Loyaltytrochaic tetrameter · 8 lines To lose thee, sweeter than to gaincommon measure · 8 lines Poor little heart12 lines Forgotteniambic trimeter · 18 lines I've got an arrow hereiambic trimeter · 7 lines The Mastershort measure · 12 lines Heart, we will forget himtrochaic trimeter · 8 lines Father, I bring thee not myself, —common measure · 8 lines We outgrow love like other things4 lines Not with a club the heart is brokencommon measure · 12 lines Who?iambic trimeter · 7 lines He touched me, so I live to knowiambic tetrameter · 12 lines Dreams4 lines Numen Lumencommon measure · 16 lines Longingcommon measure · 24 lines Weddedcommon measure · unrhymed · 8 lines Nature's Changescommon measure · 16 lines The Tulipiambic trimeter · 6 lines A light exists in springshort measure · 20 lines The Waking Yearcommon measure · 16 lines To Marchiambic trimeter · 29 lines Marchtrochaic tetrameter · 12 lines Dawn4 lines A murmur in the trees to notecommon measure · 20 lines Morning is the place for dew4 lines To my quick ear the leaves conferredcommon measure · 8 lines A Roseiambic tetrameter · 6 lines High from the earth I heard a birdiambic tetrameter · 20 lines Cobwebscommon measure · 8 lines A Wellcommon measure · 20 lines To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee, —5 lines The Windiambic dimeter · 12 lines A dew sufficed itselfshort measure · 12 lines The Woodpecker4 lines A Snakeiambic tetrameter · 8 lines Could I but ride indefinitecommon measure · 18 lines The Mooncommon measure · 20 lines The Batcommon measure · unrhymed · 16 lines The Ballooncommon measure · 20 lines Eveningiambic tetrameter · AABB · 12 lines Cocoon5 lines Sunset4 lines Aurora19 lines The Coming of Nighttrochaic trimeter · 24 lines Aftermathcommon measure · 8 lines This world is not conclusioniambic tetrameter · 12 lines We learn in the retreatingiambic tetrameter · 8 lines They say that 'time assuages,' —common measure · 8 lines We cover thee, sweet faceiambic trimeter · 12 lines Endingtrochaic tetrameter · 8 lines The stimulus, beyond the grave4 lines Given in marriage unto theedactylic trimeter · 8 lines That such have died enables us4 lines They won't frown always, — some sweet daycommon measure · 8 lines Immortalityiambic trimeter · 8 lines The distance that the dead have gonecommon measure · 8 lines How dare the robins singiambic trimeter · 16 lines Deathtrochaic trimeter · 12 lines Unwarnediambic trimeter · 14 lines Each that we lose takes part of us4 lines Not any higher stands the gravecommon measure · 8 lines Asleepcommon measure · 12 lines The Spiritcommon measure · 12 lines The Monumentcommon measure · 8 lines Bless God, he went as soldiersiambic trimeter · 8 lines Immortal is an ample wordiambic tetrameter · 8 lines Where every bird is bold to go4 lines The grave my little cottage iscommon measure · 8 lines This was in the white of the yearcommon measure · 8 lines Sweet hours have perished here4 lines Me! Come! My dazzled faceiambic trimeter · AABB · 10 lines Invisiblecommon measure · 8 lines I wish I knew that woman's namecommon measure · 8 lines Trying to Forgetcommon measure · 16 lines I felt a funeral in my braincommon measure · 16 lines I meant to find her when I camecommon measure · 12 lines Waitingshort measure · 8 lines A sickness of this world it most occasionsiambic dimeter · 8 lines Superfluous were the sunshort measure · 12 lines So proud she was to dieshort measure · 8 lines Farewellcommon measure · 16 lines The dying need but little, dear, —common measure · 8 lines Deadshort measure · 12 lines The soul should always stand ajarcommon measure · 8 lines Three weeks passed since I had seen her, —trochaic trimeter · 12 lines I breathed enough to learn the trickcommon measure · 8 lines I wonder if the sepulchre4 lines Joy in Deathcommon measure · unrhymed · 8 lines If I may have it when it's deadcommon measure · 12 lines Before the ice is in the poolstrochaic trimeter · 16 lines Dyingcommon measure · 16 lines Adrift! a little boat adriftcommon measure · 13 lines There's been a death in the opposite housecommon measure · 24 lines We never know we go, — when we are going4 lines The Soul's Stormshort measure · 12 lines Water is taught by thirst6 lines Thirstcommon measure · 8 lines A clock stopped — not the mantel'scommon measure · 16 lines Charlotte Brontë's Graveshort measure · 20 lines A toad can die of lightiambic dimeter · 8 lines Far from love the Heavenly Fathertrochaic trimeter · 8 lines Sleepingcommon measure · unrhymed · 8 lines Retrospectcommon measure · 24 lines Eternitytrochaic trimeter · 12 lines

About this text

Public domain. Text from Poems by Emily Dickinson, Three Series, Complete, Project Gutenberg ebook #12242. Free to read, print, copy and reuse.

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