Emily Dickinson

I tie my Hat - I crease my Shawl

RW 522 I tie my Hat - I crease my Shawl - Life's little duties do - precisely - As the very least Were infinite  - to me - I put new Blossoms in the Glass - And throw the old - away - I push a petal from my Gown That anchored there - I weigh The time 'twill be till six o'clock - I have so much to do - And yet - existence - some way back - Stopped - struck - my ticking - through - We cannot put Ourself away As a completed Man Or Woman - When the errand's done We came to Flesh - upon - There may be - Miles on Miles of Nought - Of Action - sicker far - To simulate - is stinging work - To cover what we are From Science - and from Surgery - Too Telescopic Eyes To bear on us unshaded - For their - sake - Not for Ours - Therefore - we do life's labor - Though life's Reward - be done - With scrupulous exactness - To hold our Senses - on -