The world allured me & in an unguarded moment I listened to her siren voice. From that moment I seemed to lose interest in heavenly things. Friends reasoned with me & told me of the danger I was in. I felt my danger & was alarmed, but I had rambled too far to return & ever since my heart has been growing harder.
Emily DickinsonYou are out of the way of temptation and out of the way of the tempter - I didn't mean to make you wicked - but I was - and am - and shall be - and I was with you so much that I couldn't help contaminate.
Emily DickinsonHow do most people live without any thought? There are many people in the world,--you must have noticed them in the street,--how do they live? How do they get strength to put on their clothes in the morning?
Emily DickinsonAfter great pain, a formal feeling comes โ The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs โ The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore, And Yesterday, or Centuries before? The Feet, mechanical, go round โ Of Ground, or Air, or Ought โ A Wooden way Regardless grown, A Quartz contentment, like a stone โ This is the Hour of Lead โ Remembered, if outlived, As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow โ First โ Chill โ then Stupor โ then the letting go โ
Emily Dickinson