J 640 by Emily Dickinson (This one is especially for Timothy)

  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 could not die — with You --
  For One must wait
  To shut the Other's Gaze down --
  You — could not --

  And I — Could I stand by
  And see You — freeze --
  Without my Right of Frost --
  Death's privilege?

  Nor could I rise — with You --
  Because Your Face
  Would put out Jesus' --
  That New Grace

  Glow plain — and foreign
  On my homesick Eye --
  Except that You than He
  Shone closer by --

  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 --

  And were You — saved --
  And I — condemned to be
  Where You were not --
  That self — were Hell to Me --

  So We must meet apart --
  You there — I — here --
  With just the Door ajar
  That Oceans are — and Prayer --
  And that White Sustenance --
  Despair --