J322

There came a Day at Summer’s full,Entirely for me -I thought that such were for the Saints,Where Resurrections - be -

The Sun, as common, went abroad,The flowers, accustomed, blew,As if no soul the solstice passedThat maketh all things new -

The time was scarce profaned, by speech -The symbol of a wordWas needless, as at Sacrament,The Wardrobe - of our Lord -

Each was to each The Sealed Church,Permitted to commune this - time -Lest we too awkward showAt Supper of the Lamb.

The Hours slid fast - as Hours will -Clutched tight, by greedy hands -So faces on two Decks, look back,Bound to opposing lands -

And so when all the time had leaked,Without external soundEach bound the Other’s Crucifix -We gave no other Bond -

Sufficient troth, that we shall rise -Deposed - at length, the Grave -To that new Marriage,Justified - through Calvaries of Love -

c. 1861                            1890

The poet powerfully expresses the failure of a love and her consequent renunciation of desire. The pervasive use of religious imagery here, and in J640, temptingly suggests that the object of Dickinson’s love was the Reverend Charles Wadsworth (see Life and Works).