DEWYSTONE FROM VENUS

Nature can tell you all about the life and all the truth of life.



A bird came down the walk 


A Bird came down the Walk-- 

He did not know I saw-- 

He bit an Angleworm in halves 

And ate the fellow, raw, 


And then he drank a Dew 

From a convenient Grass-- 

And then hopped sidewise to the Wall 

To Let a Beetle pass-- 


He glanced with rapid eyes 

That hurried all around-- 

They looked like frightened Beads, I thought-- 

He stirred his Velvet Head 


Like one in danger, Catious, 

I offered him a Crumb 

And he unrolled his feathers 

And rowed him softer home-- 


Than Oars divide the Ocean, 

Too silver for a seam 

Or Butterflies, off Banks of Noon 

Leap, Plashless as they swim.


              ---- Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) 




Notes:

Bead: necklace made of beads 

Crumb: very small piece, esp of bread, cake or biscuit 

unrolled: cause sth to open out from a rolled position by rolling 

seam: line on a surface, eg a wrinkle of scar on skin 

plashless: vigorously jump