Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

I CANNOT DANCE UPON MY TOES by EMILY DICKINSON

Poet Analysis

Last Line: It's full as Opera—
Subject(s): BALLET; WIT & HUMOR;
I cannot dance upon my Toes-
No Man instructed me-

But oftentimes, among my mind,

A Glee possesseth me,

That had I Ballet knowledge-

Would put itself abroad

In Pirouette to blanch a Troupe-

Or lay a Prima, mad,

And though I had no Gown of Gauze-

No Ringlet, to my Hair,

Nor hopped to Audiences-like Birds,

One Claw upon the Air,

Nor tossed my shape in Eider Balls,

Nor rolled on wheels of snow

Till I was out of sight, in sound,

The House encore me so-

Nor any know I know the Art

I mention-easy-Here-

Nor any Placard boast me-

It's full as Opera-


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