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October 21, 2008
After Great Pain, A Formal Feeling Comes — by Emily Dickinson


After great pain, a formal feeling comes—
The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs—
The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore,
And Yesterday, or Centuries before?
The Feet, mechanical, go round—
Of Ground, or Air, or Ought—
A Wooden way
Regardless grown,
A Quartz contentment, like a stone—
This is the Hour of Lead—
Remembered, if outlived,
As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow—
First—Chill—then Stupor—then the letting go—





















October 21, 2008 at 10:01 AM | Permalink
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Comments
Heavens, Joe, this is not your brand image...Fine photograph... The poem---this is the first time I have thought of the denial of grief as being rather a lot like anaesthetic.
Posted by: Jeanne | Oct 21, 2008 11:06:37 AM
These words make sense only as much as they key in to a state that someone has lived through or can somehow recognize. Up until "The hour of lead," the door didn't open for me.
Posted by: Milena | Oct 21, 2008 10:22:47 AM
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