The Outer—from the Inner

Emily Dickinson 1830 (Amherst) – 1886 (Amherst)



The Outer—from the Inner
Derives its Magnitude—
'Tis Duke, or Dwarf, according
As is the Central Mood—

The fine—unvarying Axis
That regulates the Wheel—
Though Spokes—spin—more conspicuous
And fling a dust—the while.

The Inner—paints the Outer—
The Brush without the Hand—
Its Picture publishes—precise—
As is the inner Brand—

On fine—Arterial Canvas—
A Cheek—perchance a Brow—
The Star's whole Secret—in the Lake—
Eyes were not meant to know.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 14, 2023

21 sec read
413

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABXB CXCX ADXD CXXX
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 476
Words 70
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4

Emily Dickinson

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. more…

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