I Died for Beauty
(#449)
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

               Poetry Page / English 9 / Dickinson page

                I died for Beauty – but was scarce
                Adjusted in the Tomb
                When One who died for Truth, was lain
                In an adjoining Room ¾
                He questioned softly "Why I failed"?
                "For Beauty", I replied ¾
                "and I – for Truth – Themselves are One ¾
                We Bretheren, are", He said ¾
                And so, as Kinsman, met a Night ¾
                We talked between the Rooms ¾
                Until the Moss had reached our lips ¾
                And covered up – our names –