Dear friend –

I infer

from your Note

you have ′′taken

Captivity Captive′′,

and rejoice that

that martial Verse

has been verified.

He who is  ′′slain

′′and smiles, steals

something from

the ′′ sword, but

you have stolen

the sword itself,

which is far

better – I hope

you may be

 

 ¦

 

harmed no more –

I shall watch

your passage

from Crutch to

Cane with

jealous affection.

From there to

your Wings is

but a stride –

as was said

of the convalescing

 

 ¦

 

I, too, took my

Summer in a

Chair, though

from ′′Nervous

prostration ′′, not

fracture, but

take my Nerve

by the Bridle

now, and am

again abroad –

Thank you for

the wish –

The Summer

has been wide

and deep, and

a deeper Autumn

 

 ¦

 

is but the Gleam

concomitant of

that waylaying

Light –

Pursuing you in

your transitions,

In other Motes,

Of other Myths

Your requisition

be.

The Prism never

held the Hues,

It only heard

them play –

 

Loyally,

 

E. Dickinson —