Our share of night to bear,
Our share of morning,
Our blank in bliss to fill,
Our blank in scorning.
Here a star, and there a star,
Some lose their way.
Here a mist, and there a mist,
Afterwards—day!
Credits
Emily Dickinson was an American poet of the 19th century, now considered one of the most original voices in literary history. Though she published fewer than a dozen poems during her lifetime, her work — including this piece — was largely discovered and shared after her death in 1886. "Our Share of Night to Bear" reflects her characteristic use of compressed verse and hymn-like meter to explore universal human experience.
