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| Tiara Western Europe ca. 1835 diamonds set in silver, rubies set in gold Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
The Sky is low - the Clouds are mean.
A Travelling Flake of Snow
Across a Barn or through a Rut
Debates if it will go -
A Narrow Wind complains all Day
How some one treated him.
Nature, like Us is sometimes caught
Without her Diadem -
1866
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| Brooch Western Europe ca. 1830 colored gold set with diamonds Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Ornament England 1840s enameled-gold, rock-crystals, pearls, garnets Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Brooch Western Europe ca. 1825 tortoiseshell, gold, turquoises, pearl Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
I held a Jewel in my fingers -
And went to sleep -
The day was warm, and winds were prosy -
I said "'Twill keep" -
I woke - and chid my honest fingers,
The Gem was gone -
And now, an Amethyst remembrance
Is all I own -
1861
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| Brooch Western Europe ca. 1850-1900 rubies, emeralds, diamonds set in gold and silver Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Earrings Western Europe ca. 1835-40 gold-filigree, turquoises, pearls Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Pendant England ca. 1850 enameled-gold, emeralds, sapphire, agate-cameo Renaissance-revival design Victoria & Albert Museum |
Those fair - fictitious People -
The Women - plucked away
From our familiar Lifetime -
The Men of Ivory -
Those Boys and Girls, in Canvas -
Who stay upon the Wall
in everlasting Keepsake -
Can anybody tell?
1862
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| Brooch Italy ca. 1820-30 micromosaic panel with glass tiles silver-gilt filagree setting Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Bracelet Western Europe ca. 1835-50 plaited human hair gold clasp set with shell-cameo Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Some we see no more, Tenements of Wonder
Occupy to us though perhaps to them
Simpler are the Days than the Supposition
Their removing Manners
Leave us to presume.
That oblique Belief which we call Conjecture
Grapples with a Theme stubborn as sublime
Able as the Dust to equip its feature
Adequate as Drums to enlist the Tomb.
1871
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| Locket Germany ca. 1880 gold, pearls enameled plaque with Cupids Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Earrings Germany ca. 1880 gold, pearls, turquoises, diamonds enameled plaques with Cupids Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Pendant Austria ca. 1850-1900 enameled-gold, tourmalines, rubies, pearls Renaissance-revival design Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
The Past is such a curious Creature
To look her in the Face
A Transport may receipt us
Or a Disgrace -
Unarmed if any meet her
I charge him fly
Her faded Ammunition
Might yet reply.
1872
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| Brooch England ca. 1850 gold, garnets shell-cameo (the Three Graces) Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Ornament Western Europe ca. 1851 silver, diamonds floral spray (convolvulus blossoms) Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
A Diamond on the Hand
To Custom Common grown
Subsides from its significance
The Gem were best unknown -
Within a Seller's shrine
How many sight and sigh
And cannot, but are mad with fear
That any other buy -
1867
– poems are by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) from the most recent complete edition, edited by R.W. Franklin (Harvard, 1999)