"To Fight Aloud Is Very Brave,"

To fight aloud is very brave,
But gallanter, I know,
Who charge within the bosom,
The cavalry of woe.

Who win, and nations do not see,
Who fall, and none observe,
Whose dying eyes no country
Regards with patriot love.

We trust, in plumed procession,
For such the angels go,
Rank after rank, with even feet
And uniforms of snow.

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson, born on December 10, 1830, and died on May 15, 1886, was an American poet who is extensively known for her innovative and poignant use of language and form. Her work, largely unpublished and unknown during her lifetime, has since positioned her among the greatest American poets. Although she seldom left her home, her poetry delved deeply into themes of death, immortality, nature, and human consciousness. Dickinson's unique style continues to influence poets and readers today.

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson

Drowning Is Not So Pitiful

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson, Simple Poetry

"The One That Could Repeat The Summer Day"

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson, Simple Poetry

Aspiration.

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson, Simple Poetry

A Day.

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson, Simple Poetry

English

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Bless God, He Went As Soldiers,

Bless God, he went as soldiers,
His musket on his breast;
Grant, God, he charge the bravest
Of all the martial blest.

Please God, might I behold him
In epauletted white,
I should not fear the foe then,
I should not fear the fight.

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson

And He Said, "Fight On" [1]

(Tennyson)

Time and its ally, Dark Disarmament,
        Have compassed me about,
Have massed their armies, and on battle bent
        My forces put to rout;
But though I fight alone, and fall, and die,
        Talk terms of Peace? Not I.

They war upon my fortress, and their guns
        Are shattering its walls;
My army plays the cowards' part, and runs,
        Pierced by a thousand balls;
They call for my surrender. I reply,
        "Give quarter now? Not I."

They've shot my flag to ribbons, but in rents
        It floats above the height;
Their ensign shall not crown my battlements
        While I can stand and fight.
I fling defiance at them as I cry,
        "Capitulate? Not I."

Emily Pauline Johnson

Triumphant.

Who never lost, are unprepared
A coronet to find;
Who never thirsted, flagons
And cooling tamarind.

Who never climbed the weary league --
Can such a foot explore
The purple territories
On Pizarro's shore?

How many legions overcome?
The emperor will say.
How many colors taken
On Revolution Day?

How many bullets bearest?
The royal scar hast thou?
Angels, write "Promoted"
On this soldier's brow!

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson

The Book Of Martyrs.

Read, sweet, how others strove,
Till we are stouter;
What they renounced,
Till we are less afraid;
How many times they bore
The faithful witness,
Till we are helped,
As if a kingdom cared!

Read then of faith
That shone above the fagot;
Clear strains of hymn
The river could not drown;
Brave names of men
And celestial women,
Passed out of record
Into renown!

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson

Forgotten.

There is a word
Which bears a sword
Can pierce an armed man.
It hurls its barbed syllables,--
At once is mute again.
But where it fell
The saved will tell
On patriotic day,
Some epauletted brother
Gave his breath away.

Wherever runs the breathless sun,
Wherever roams the day,
There is its noiseless onset,
There is its victory!

Behold the keenest marksman!
The most accomplished shot!
Time's sublimest target
Is a soul 'forgot'!

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson

Success.

[Published in "A Masque of Poets" at the request of "H.H.," the author's fellow-townswoman and friend.]

Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne'er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple host
Who took the flag to-day
Can tell the definition,
So clear, of victory,

As he, defeated, dying,
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Break, agonized and clear!

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson