I dreaded that first Robin, so, Emily Dickinson I dreaded that first Robin, so, But He is mastered, now, I'm accustomed to Him grown, He hurts a little, though— I thought If I could only live Till that first Shout got by— Not all Pianos in the Woods Had power to mangle me I dared not meet the Daffodils— For fear their Yellow Gown Would pierce me with a fashion So foreign to my own— I wished the Grass would hurry— So when 'twas time to see— He'd be too tall, the tallest one Could stretch to look at me— I could not bear the Bees should come, I wished they'd stay away In those dim countries where they go, What word had they, for me?They're here, though; not a creature failed— No Blossom stayed away In gentle deference to me— The Queen of Calvary— Each one salutes me, as he goes, 1 / 2
And I, my childish Plumes, Lift, in bereaved acknowledgement Of their unthinking Drums –
VOCABULARY
Dreaded- was scared of / didn’t look forward too Mastered- conquered, controlled Accustomed- gotten used to Till- until Mangle- damage, ruin or destroy Pierce- break the surface of something, usually witha sharp point such as a needle Deference- respect and submission Plumes- feathers Bereaved- in a state of grief after losing a lovedone Acknowledgement- a state of acceptance
STORY/SUMMARY
(Stanza1)IwassoscaredofthearrivalofthatfirstRobin,butIhavemasteredmy fear,I’musedtohimbeingfull-grown,eventhoughhestillhurtsalittle.(Stanza2)I thoughtifIcouldonlyliveuntiltheRobinmadehisfirstshout-thennotalltheother pianosinthewoodhadthepowertoharmme(Stanza3)Idarednotmeetthe DaffodilsbecauseIwasafraidthattheirYellowdresseswouldaffectmeinapainful waybecausetheyweresounfamiliarandIwasn’tusedtothem(Stanza4)Iwished thegrasswouldhurryupwithitsgrowingsothatwhenitwastimetosee-he’dbe tootall,thetallestdaffodilcouldstretchtolookatme(Stanza5)Icouldn’tbearit whentheBeescame,Iwishedthattheywouldstayawayinthosefaroffcountries wheretheygoinwinter,whatcouldtheypossiblytalktomeabout?(Stanza6)The beesareherethough,nocreaturefailedtoappearinSpring,noflowerstayedaway- Ingentlerespectforme-theQueenofCalvary-(Stanza7)Eachflowerand
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