One Sister have I in the house–
And one a hedge away.
There’s only one recorded–
But both belong to me.
One came the road that I came–
And wore my last year’s gown–
The other, as a bird her nest
Builded our hearts among.
She did not sing as we did–
It was a different tune–
Herself to her a music
As Bumble bee of June.
Today is far from childhood,
But up and down the hills,
I held her hand the tighter–
Which shortened all the miles–
And still her hum
The years among,
Deceives the Butterfly;
And in her Eye
The Violets lie,
Mouldered this many May–
I spilt the dew,
But took the morn–
I chose this single star
From out the wide night’s numbers–
Sue–forevermore!
~~Emily Dickinson, c. late 1858; probably sent to Sue Dickinson, her best friend and sister-in-law, as a birthday greeting.
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