E-Text

Emily Dickinson's Collected Poems

Part Four: Time and Eternity 10. I died for beauty, but was scarce

I died for beauty, but was scarce

Adjusted in the tomb,

When one who died for truth was lain

In an adjoining room.


He questioned softly why I failed?

"For beauty," I replied.

"And I for truth, -- the two are one;

We brethren are," he said.


And so, as kinsmen met a night,

We talked between the rooms,

Until the moss had reached our lips,

And covered up our names.