Famous Family Poems

This poem is about Emily Dickinson's sister-in-law Susan. She lived with her sister Lavinia, "One Sister have I in our house" and she had a sister-in-law Susan, her brother Austin's wife, who lived next door, "one a hedge away". "There's only one recorded", Lavinia is her only biological sister. "But both belong to me", she considers Susan to be a sister too although they are actually sisters-in-law's.

One Sister Have I In Our House

By

Emily Dickinson

One Sister have I in our 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;
Still 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!

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