Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE SHELTER by EMILY DICKINSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: THE BODY GROWS OUTSIDE
Last Line: In timid honesty
Subject(s): BODY, HUMAN; SOUL;

The body grows outside,
The more convenient way,
That if the spirit like to hide,
Its temple stands alway

Ajar, secure, inviting;
It never did betray
The soul that asked its shelter
In timid honesty
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The Bone that has no Marrow,
What Ultimate for that?
It is not fit for Table
For Beggar or for Cat.

A Bone has obligations -
A Being has the same -
A Marrowless Assembly
Is culpabler than shame.

But how shall finished Creatures
A function fresh obtain?
Old Nicodemus' Phantom
Confronting us again!



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