Pain Has an Element, by Emily Dickinson

Pain Has an Element

Pain has an element of blank;

It cannot recollect

When it began, or if there were

A day when it was not.

It has no future but itself,

Its infinite realms contain

Its past, enlightened to perceive

New periods of pain.

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A little bread—a crust—a crumb— A little trust—a demijohn— Can keep the soul alive— Not portly, mind! but breathing—wa… Conscious—as old Napoleon,

512 The Soul has Bandaged moments— When too appalled to stir— She feels some ghastly Fright com… And stop to look at her—

549 That I did always love I bring thee Proof That till I loved I never lived—Enough—

GLEE! the great storm is over! Four have recovered the land; Forty gone down together Into the boiling sand. Ring, for the scant salvation!

50 I haven’t told my garden yet— Lest that should conquer me. I haven’t quite the strength now To break it to the Bee—

898 How happy I was if I could forget To remember how sad I am Would be an easy adversity But the recollecting of Bloom

724 It’s easy to invent a Life— God does it—every Day— Creation—but the Gambol Of His Authority—

7 The feet of people walking home With gayer sandals go— The Crocus—til she rises The Vassal of the snow—

854 Banish Air from Air— Divide Light if you dare— They’ll meet While Cubes in a Drop

710 The Sunrise runs for Both— The East—Her Purple Troth Keeps with the Hill— The Noon unwinds Her Blue

971 Robbed by Death—but that was easy… To the failing Eye I could hold the latest Glowing— Robbed by Liberty

No matter—now—Sweet— But when I’m Earl— Won’t you wish you’d spoken To that dull Girl? Trivial a Word—just—

The soul selects her own society, Then shuts the door; On her divine majority Obtrude no more. Unmoved, she notes the chariot’s p…

57 To venerate the simple days Which lead the seasons by, Needs but to remember That from you or I,

501 This World is not Conclusion. A Species stands beyond— Invisible, as Music— But positive, as Sound—