The Birds reported from the South — Herb Grace

The Birds reported from the South－¹
A News express to Me－
A spicy Charge, My little Posts－
But I am deaf－Today－

The Flowers－appealed－a timid Throng－⁵
I reinforced the Door－
Go blossom for the Bees－I said－
And trouble Me－no More－

The Summer Grace, for Notice strove－⁹
Remote－Her best Array－
The Heart－to stimulate the Eye
Refused too utterly－

At length, a Mourner, like Myself, ¹³
She drew away austere－
Her frosts to ponder－then it was
I recollected Her－

She suffered Me, for I had mourned－¹⁷
I offered Her no word－
My Witness－was the Crape I bore－
Her－Witness－was Her Dead－

Thenceforward－We－together dwelt－²¹
I never questioned Her－
Our Contract
A Wiser Sympathy

(F.780/J.743)

[1–8] Posts, Door:: Dickinson's herb grace was isolated from other plants.
[9] Grace:: herb grace, herb of grace, or herb rue; the plants are often dried and put inside books to prevent bugs.
[10] Her:: the herb.
[11] Heart:: a fertilized land. Eye:: a bud.
[14] drew away:: the herb died.
[20] Dead:: withered.
[21] together dwelt:: a dried herb in Dickinson's book.