Skip to main content
Humanities LibreTexts

4.25.16: 656 (I started Early – Took my Dog)

  • Page ID
    63969
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    I started Early — Took my Dog —
    And visited the Sea —
    The Mermaids in the Basement
    Came out to look at me —

    And Frigates — in the Upper Floor
    Extended Hempen Hands —
    Presuming Me to be a Mouse —
    Aground — upon the Sands —

    But no Man moved Me — till the Tide
    Went past my simple Shoe —
    And past my Apron — and my Belt —
    And past my Bodice — too —

    And made as He would eat me up —
    As wholly as a Dew
    Upon a Dandelion’s Sleeve —
    And then — I started — too —

    And He — He followed — close behind —
    I felt his Silver Heel
    Upon my Ankle — Then my Shoes
    Would overflow with Pearl —

    Until We met the Solid Town —
    No One He seemed to know —
    And bowing — with a Mighty look —
    At me — The Sea withdrew —


    4.25.16: 656 (I started Early – Took my Dog) is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

    • Was this article helpful?