Of God we ask one favor, 1
That we may be forgiven－
For what, he is presumed to know－
The Crime, from us, is hidden－
Immured the whole of Life 5
Within a magic Prison
We reprimand the Happiness
That too competes with Heaven.
That we may be forgiven－
For what, he is presumed to know－
The Crime, from us, is hidden－
Immured the whole of Life 5
Within a magic Prison
We reprimand the Happiness
That too competes with Heaven.
(F.1675/J.1601)
[1, 2] God, favor, forgiven:: Dickinson was not seriously asked for forgiveness, but stated a fact.
[4, 5] Crime, Life:: the whole of life is sealed in our own heaven, and its happiness is better than God's heaven.
[6] magic Prison:: a heaven in earth that can compete with God's.
[7] We reprimand:: we have experienced the happiness already, so that we can reprimand it.
[8] too competes with Heaven:: Dickinson believed not the story of Heaven.