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If He Were Living Dare I Ask?, By: Emily Dickinson

October 11, 2026 by Editors

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If he were living—dare I ask?
And how if he were dead?
And so around the words I went
Of meeting them afraid.

I hinted changes, lapse of time,
The surfaces of years
I touched with caution, lest they slit
And show me to my fears.

Reverted to adjoining lives
Adroitly turning out
Wherever I suspected graves—
‘Twas prudenter, I thought.

And He—I rushed with sudden force
In face of the suspense—
“Was buried”—”Buried!”
“He!”
My life just holds the trench.

Read all of Emily Dickinson's poems · About Emily Dickinson

More by Emily Dickinson

  • Why Do They Shut Me
  • There Is A Languor Of The Life
  • There Is A Pain So Utter
  • Joy To Have Merited The Pain
  • Rehearsal To Ourselves

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