Bind me I still can sing — Orpheus

Dickinson compared her life of poetry with Orpheus, who was bound, banished, slain, but still singing all the way to paradise.

Bind me－I still can sing－
Banish－my mandolin
Strikes true within－

Slay－and my Soul shall rise
Chanting to Paradise－
Still thine.

(F.1005/J.1005)

[1-4] Bind, Banish, Slay:: in Greek myth, Orpheus was torn to pieces by Thracian Maenads.
[2] mandolin:: he was a musician and lyric poet.
[5, 6] Chanting, Still:: his head was thrown to River Hebrus and floated to Lesbos, still singing.