To disappear enhances —
The Man that runs away
Is tinctured for an instant
With Immortality
But yesterday a Vagrant —
Today in Memory lain
With superstitious value
We tamper with “Again”
But “Never” far as Honor
Withdraws the Worthless thing
And impotent to cherish
We hasten to adorn —
Of Death the sternest function
That just as we discern
The Excellence defies us —
Securest gathered then
The Fruit perverse to plucking,
But leaning to the Sight
With the ecstatic limit
Of unobtained Delight —
(Emily Dickinson)
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Based on Topics: Man Poems, Death & Dying Poems, Sense & Perception Poems, Memory Poems, Excellence PoemsBased on Keywords: gathered, leaning, discern, adorn, worthless, disappear, cherish, impotent, hasten, ecstatic, limit