Discover 23 impactful poems by Emily Dickinson that have left a lasting mark on me.
Explore the depth and beauty of Dickinson’s poetry as you delve into this collection of her top works.
Feel the resonance and timelessness of Dickinson’s words as they touch your heart and soul.
Start your journey into the world of Emily Dickinson’s renowned poetry.
My #1 Favorite Emily Dickinson Poem
#1
“Hope” by Emily Dickinson
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I‘ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
I chose this as my favorite poem among the collection because this brings back so much nostalgia for me, especially when I was doing my majors.
Hope is truly one of the things that anchor us whenever life gets hard, it could be cruel sometimes, though, because it makes us hold on still to things and people even when there’s nothing to hold on to anymore.
However, it teaches us a valuable lesson of resilience amidst adversity and I guess, almost everyone is just holding it all together for the hope of it all.
My 22 favorite poems by Emily Dickinson
#2
“If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking” by Emily Dickinson
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
— Emily Dickinson
#3
“I Many Times Thought Peace Had Come” by Emily Dickinson
I many times thought peace had come,
When peace was far away;
As wrecked men deem they sight the land
At centre of the sea,
And struggle slacker, but to prove,
As hopelessly as I,
How many the fictitious shores
Before the harbor lie.
— Emily Dickinson
#4
“I Taste A Liquor Never Brewed” by Emily Dickinson
I taste a liquor never brewed –
From Tankards scooped in Pearl –
Not all the Frankfort Berries
Yield such an Alcohol!
Inebriate of air – am I –
And Debauchee of Dew –
Reeling – thro’ endless summer days –
From inns of molten Blue –
When “Landlords” turn the drunken Bee
Out of the Foxglove’s door –
When Butterflies – renounce their “drams” –
I shall but drink the more!
Till Seraphs swing their snowy Hats –
And Saints – to windows run –
To see the little Tippler
Leaning against the – Sun!
— Emily Dickinson
#5
“I’m Nobody! Who Are You?” by Emily Dickinson
I’m nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there ‘s a pair of us — don’t tell!
They ‘d banish us, you know.
How dreary to be somebody!
How public, like a frog
To tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!
— Emily Dickinson
#6
“Superiority to Fate” by Emily Dickinson
Superiority to fate
Is difficult to learn.
’Tis not conferred by any,
But possible to earn
A pittance at a time,
Until, to her surprise,
The soul with strict economy
Subsists till Paradise.
— Emily Dickinson
#7
“Time’s Lesson” by Emily Dickinson
Mine enemy is growing old, —
I have at last revenge.
The palate of the hate departs;
If any would avenge, —
Let him be quick, the viand flits,
It is a faded meat.
Anger as soon as fed is dead;
‘T is starving makes it fat.
— Emily Dickinson
#8
“The Mystery of Pain” by Emily Dickinson
Pain has an element of blank;
It cannot recollect
When it began, or if there were
A day when it was not.
It has no future but itself,
Its infinite realms contain
Its past, enlightened to perceive
New periods of pain
— Emily Dickinson
#9
“Love” by Emily Dickinson
Love is anterior to life,
Posterior to death,
Initial of creation, and
The exponent of breath.
— Emily Dickinson
#10
“T’is So Much Joy” by Emily Dickinson
’T is so much joy! ’T is so much joy!
If I should fail, what poverty!
And yet, as poor as I
Have ventured all 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!
— Emily Dickinson
#11
“A Charm Invests a Face” by Emily Dickinson
A charm invests a face
Imperfectly beheld, —
The lady dare not lift her veil
For fear it be dispelled.
But peers beyond her mesh,
And wishes, and denies, —
Lest interview annul a want
That image satisfies.
— Emily Dickinson
#12
“Wild Nights! Wild Nights!” by Emily Dickinson
Wild nights! Wild nights!
Were I with thee,
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!
Futile the winds
To a heart in port, —
Done with the compass,
Done with the chart.
Rowing in Eden!
Ah! the sea!
Might I but moor
To-night in thee!
— Emily Dickinsaon
#13
“We Outgrow Love Like Other Things” by Emily Dickinson
We outgrow love like other things
And put it in the drawer,
Till it an antique fashion shows
Like costumes grandsires wore.
— Emily Dickinson
#14
“Success” by Emily Dickinson
Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne’er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.
Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the Flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of victory
As he defeated – dying –
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!
— Emily Dickinson
#15
“I Have No Life But This” by Emily Dickinson
I have no life but this,
To lead it here;
Nor any death, but lest
Dispelled from there;
Nor tie to earths to come,
Nor action new,
Except through this extent,
The realm of you.
— Emily Dickinson
#16
“The Outlet” by Emily Dickinson
My River runs to thee—
Blue Sea! Wilt welcome me?
My River wait reply—
Oh Sea—look graciously—
I’ll fetch thee Brooks
From spotted nooks—
Say—Sea—Take Me!
— Emily Dickinson
#17
“When I Hoped I Feared” by Emily Dickinson
When I hoped I feared,
Since I hoped I dared;
Everywhere alone
As a church remain;
Spectre cannot harm,
Serpent cannot charm;
He deposes doom,
Who hath suffered him.
— Emily Dickinson
#18
“Simplicity” by Emily Dickinson
How happy is the little stone
That rambles in the road alone,
And doesn’t care about careers,
And exigencies never fears;
Whose coat of elemental brown
A passing universe put on;
And independent as the sun,
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute decree
In casual simplicity.
— Emily Dickinson
#19
“Let Down the Bars O Death” by Emily Dickinson
Let down the bars, O Death!
The tired flocks come in
Whose bleating ceases to repeat,
Whose wandering is done.
— Emily Dickinson
#20
“The Show” by Emily Dickinson
The show is not the show,
But they that go.
Menagerie to me
My neighbor be.
Fair play—
Both went to see.
— Emily Dickinson
#21
“The Duel” by Emily Dickinson
I took my Power in my Hand—
And went against the World—
’Twas not so much as David—had—
But I—was twice as bold—
I aimed by Pebble—but Myself
Was all the one that fell—
Was it Goliath—was too large—
Or was myself—too small?
— Emily Dickinson
#22
“I Had No Time To Hate” by Emily Dickinson
I had no time to Hate—
Because The Grave would hinder Me—
And life was not so
Ample I
Could finish—Enmity
Nor had I time to Love—
But since
Some Industry must be—
The little Toil of Love—
I thought
Be large enough for Me—
— Emily Dickinson
#23
“Surgeons Must Be Very Careful” by Emily Dickinson
Surgeons must be very careful
When they take the knife!
Underneath their fine incisions
Stirs the culprit, — Life!
— Emily Dickinson