The Poems of Emily Dickinson, Variorum Edition, Franklin, 1998
Emily Dickinson Archive
You've seen Balloons set - Hav'nt You?So stately they ascend - It is as Swans - discarded You, For Duties Diamond - Their Liquid Feet go softly outOpon a Sea of Blonde - They spurn the Air, as 'twere too mean For Creatures so renowned - Their Ribbons just beyond the eye - They struggle - some - for Breath -And yet the Crowd applaud, below - They would not encore - Death - The Gilded Creature strains - and spins -Trips frantic in a Tree - Tears open her imperial Veins -And tumbles in the Sea - The Crowd - retire with an Oath - The Dust in Streets - go down - And Clerks in Counting Rooms Observe - "'Twas only a Balloon" -