22 Absolutely Breathtaking Emily Dickinson Quotes
Emily Dickinson is my father’s favorite poet, and I’ve always meant to read her poetry. But it was only recently that I really immersed myself in her words. Nearly every one spoke to me, and so I have compiled this list of Emily Dickinson quotes, taken from her poems (and one letter). All images link to prints for sale on Etsy.
Emily Dickinson Quotes on Love
Oh the Earth was made for lovers, for damsel, and hopeless swain,
You love me—you are sure—
I shall not cheated wake—
Some grinning morn—
To find the Sunrise left—
And Orchards—unbereft—
And Dollie—gone!
Wild Nights—Wild Nights!
Were I with thee
Wild Nights should be
Our luxury!
We are the only poets, and everyone else is prose.
—from a letter to Susan
Emily Dickinson Quotes on Hope
“Hope” is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all—
Either the Darkness alters—
Or something in the sight
Adjusts itself to Midnight—
And Life steps almost straight.
Emily Dickinson Quotes on Grief
I measure every Grief I meet
With narrow, probing, Eyes—
I wonder if It weights like Mine—
Or has an Easier size.
I tried to think a lonelier Thing
Than any I had seen—
There is a pain—so utter—
It swallows substance up—
There is a Languor of the Life
More imminent than Pain—
‘Tis Pain’s Successor—When the Soul
Has suffered all it can—
Emily Dickinson Quotes on Death
Death sets a Thing significant
The Eye had hurried by
Except a perished Creature
Entreat us tenderly
Because I could not stop for Death—
He kindly stopped for me—
The Carriage held but just Ourselves—
And Immortality
Behind Me—dips Eternity—
Before Me—Immortality—
Myself—the Term between—
Death but the Drift of Eastern Gray
Dissolving into Dawn away—
Before the West begin—
The last Night that She lived
It was a Common Night
Except the Dying—this to Us
Made Nature different
There’s been a Death, in the Opposite House
As lately as Today—
I know it, by the numb look
Such Houses have—alway—
Emily Dickinson Quotes on Nature
The Birds declaim their Tunes—
Pronouncing every word
Like Hammers—Did they know they fell
Like Litanies of Lead
The Spider holds a Silver Ball
In unperceived Hands—
And dancing softly to Himself
His Yarn of Pearl—unwinds—
A Spider sewed at Night
Without a Light
Upon an Arc of White
Had I not seen the Sun
I could have borne the shade
Winter under cultivation
Is as arable as Spring
More Emily Dickinson Quotes
I dwell in Possibility—
A fairer House than Prose—
More numerous of —
Superior—for Doors—
Forever—is composed of Nows—
‘Tis not a different time—
Except for Infiniteness—
And Latitude of Home—
Looking for more Emily Dickinson? Try Emily Dickinson Swag. Want more poetry art? Try these 15 Gorgeous Prints. Need more quotes in your life? Try the Poetry category or check out these 30 Quotes About Poetry.
