Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, I DID NOT REACH THEE, by EMILY DICKINSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

I DID NOT REACH THEE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
Last Line: And gets the look at thee
Subject(s): Death; God


I did not reach Thee
But my feet slip nearer every day
Three Rivers and a Hill to cross
One Desert and a Sea
I shall not count the journey one
When I am telling thee.

Two deserts, but the Year is cold
So that will help the sand
One desert crossed -
The second one
Will feel as cool as land
Sahara is too little price
To pay for thy Right hand.

The Sea comes last - Step merry, feet,
So short we have to go -
To play together we are prone,
But we must labor now,
The last shall be the lightest load
That we have had to draw.

The Sun goes crooked -
That is Night
Before he makes the bend.
We must have passed the Middle Sea -
Almost we wish the End
Were further off -
Too great it seems
So near the Whole to stand.

We step like Plush,
We stand like snow,
The waters murmur new.
Three rivers and the Hill are passed -
Two deserts and the sea!
Now Death usurps my Premium
And gets the look at Thee




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