I cannot live with You

I cannot live with You— It would be Life— And Life is over there— Behind the Shelf— The Sexton keeps the Key to— Putting up Our Life—His Porcelain— Like a Cup— Discarded of the Housewife— Quaint—or Broke— A newer Sevres pleases— Old Ones crack— I cannot live with You— It would be Life— And Life is sealed away— Out of sight— I cannot live with You— It would be Death— And Death is not a place We enter yet— They’d judge Us—How— For You—served Heaven—you know, Or sought to— I could not— Because You saturated Sight— And I had no more Eyes For sordid excellence As Paradise— And were You lost—I would be— Though My Name Rang loudest— On the Heavenly fame— I cannot live with You— It would be Life— And Life is closed to me— Turned aside— I cannot live with You— It would be Death— And Death divides us still— Left from left— So We must meet apart— You there— I—here— With just the Door ajar That Oceans are— And Prayer— And that White Sustenance— Despair— I cannot live with You— I cannot die— No place remains for us To exist— I cannot live with You— I cannot stay— We are divided now— In every way— So We must meet apart— …apart— …apart— Lyrics: Emily Dickinson (adapted by Cheshirah)