Page:Emily Dickinson Poems (1890).djvu/24

 IV.

ROUGE GAGNE.

IS so much joy! 'Tis so much joy! If I should fail, what poverty! And yet, as poor as I Have ventured upon a throw; Have gained! Yes! Hesitated so This side the victory!

Life is but life, and death but death! Bliss is but bliss and breath but breath! And if, indeed, I fail, At least to know the worst is sweet. Defeat means nothing but defeat, No drearier can prevail!

And if I gain,—oh, gun at sea, Oh, bells that in the steeples be, At first repeat it slow! For heaven is a different thing Conjectured, and waked sudden in, And might o'erwhelm me so!