Notes in Emily Dickinson’s pocket – “Soul, wilt thou toss again?” (Life, 3)

Posted on June 4, 2016 by Joy of Fishes

Emily_Dickinson_daguerreotype 3
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Soul, wilt thou toss again?
By just such a hazard
Hundreds have lost, indeed,
But tens have won an all.

Angels’ breathless ballot
Lingers to record thee;
Imps in eager caucus
Raffle for my soul.
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Emily is said to have carried a pencil and scraps of paper in her pocket in order to always be prepared when a poem came her way.

~  “Tell all the Truth but tell it slant.”  ~
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Image of Emily Dickinson – from the daguerreotype taken circa 1848. (my frame)
Poem – Emily Dickinson. Complete Poems. 1924.

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2 Responses to Notes in Emily Dickinson’s pocket – “Soul, wilt thou toss again?” (Life, 3)

  1. wordcloud9 says:
    June 4, 2016 at 1:05 pm

    Her imagery really sticks with you:

    Angels’ breathless ballot
    Lingers to record thee;
    Imps in eager caucus
    Raffle for my soul.

  2. Joy of Fishes says:
    June 4, 2016 at 4:16 pm

    Good afternoon, Nona! The last two lines in particular for me.

    And to thing, as we talked about yesterday, how close all of Emily’s work came to being forgotten or lost altogether.

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