Dickinson Poems

S03E02 It feels a shame to be Alive -

It feels a shame to be Alive —

by Emily Dickinson

It feels a shame to be Alive —

When Men so brave — are dead —

One envies the Distinguished Dust —

Permitted — such a Head —

The Stone — that tells defending Whom

This Spartan put away

What little of Him we — possessed

In Pawn for Liberty —

The price is great — Sublimely paid —

Do we deserve — a Thing —

That lives — like Dollars — must be piled

Before we may obtain?

Are we that wait — sufficient worth —

That such Enormous Pearl

As life — dissolved be — for Us —

In Battle's — horrid Bowl?

It may be — a Renown to live —

I think the Men who die —

Those unsustained — Saviors —

Present Divinity —