It Was Not Death

"It Was Not Death" is the second song of Robert Beaser's Four Dickinson Songs.

Date: 2002Composer: Robert BeaserText: Emily DickinsonSong Collection: Four Dickinson Songs

Print vitals & song text

Text

It was not Death
by Emily Dickinson

It was not Death, for I stood up,
And all the Dead, lie down —
It was not Night, for all the Bells
Put out their Tongues, for Noon.

It was not Frost, for on my Flesh
I felt Siroccos — crawl —
Nor Fire — for just my Marble feet
Could keep a Chancel, cool —

And yet, it tasted, like them all,
The Figures I have seen
Set orderly, for Burial,
Reminded me, of mine —

As if my life were shaven,
And fitted to a frame,
And could not breathe without a key,
And ’twas like Midnight, some –

When everything that ticked — has stopped —
And Space stares all around —
Or Grisly frosts — first Autumn morns,
Repeal the Beating Ground —

But, most, like Chaos – Stopless — cool —
Without a Chance, or Spar —
Or even a Report of Land —
To justify — Despair.

Sheet Music

Four Dickinson Songs

Composer(s): Robert Beaser

Song(s): 1. A Word is Dead
2. It Was Not Death
3. I Dwell in Possibility
4. We Never Know How High We Are

Buy via Schott Music

Support us and help us grow

Dear friends, Thank you for helping us build a comprehensive online archive of American song. Your gift is greatly appreciated.