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Lyric Poem · Nature

I watched the Moon around the House

by Emily Dickinson

I watched the Moon around the House

Until upon a Pane —

She stopped — a Traveller's privilege — for Rest —

And there upon

I gazed — as at a stranger —

The Lady in the Town

Doth think no incivility

To lift her Glass — upon —

But never Stranger justified

The Curiosity

Like Mine — for not a Foot — nor Hand —

Nor Formula — had she —

But like a Head — a Guillotine

Slid carelessly away —

Did independent, Amber —

Sustain her in the sky —

Or like a Stemless Flower —

Upheld in rolling Air

By finer Gravitations —

Than bind Philosopher —

No Hunger — had she — nor an Inn —

Her Toilette — to suffice —

Nor Avocation — nor Concern

For little Mysteries

As harass us — like Life — and Death —

And Afterwards — or Nay —

But seemed engrossed to Absolute —

With shining — and the Sky —

The privilege to scrutinize

Was scarce upon my Eyes

When, with a Silver practise —

She vaulted out of Gaze —

And next — I met her on a Cloud —

Myself too far below

To follow her superior Road —

Or its advantage — Blue —

Full-text availability follows the United States display decision recorded below; status can differ elsewhere.

Quick facts

Poem
I watched the Moon around the House
Poet
Emily Dickinson
Length
36 lines
Form
Lyric Poem
Themes
Nature, Death & Loss

Craft notes

How this poem works

Measured from the text on this page, not copied from a summary. Counts are approximate: syllables and rhymes come from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary, which models General American English, so dialect, older pronunciation, and performance can all change what you hear.

Shape
36 lines · 9 quatrains
End rhyme
No regular perfect end rhyme. The poem may still be using slant rhyme, assonance, or internal echo, which this check does not score.
Line length
Lines run 6-8 syllables (median 7). No single length dominates, which is normal once elision and contraction are in play.

Want the rules this form is measured against? Read what makes a lyric poem, or run your own draft through the form checker to see the same measurements on your lines. How we measure · Report a mistake

Text, source & rights

A traceable edition

Full-text display is based on the committed source record and a United States term-expiry review.

Author record
Emily Dickinson1830–1886
Source record
PoetryDBI watched the Moon around the House by emily-dickinson, PoetryDB transcription
Display decision
Full text · United States · reviewed 2026-07-18
Publication record
Not recorded in the imported source
Text fingerprint
SHA-256 12522dd7081e2eb2
Editorial handling
Whitespace and stanza breaks normalized for web display; no material wording change recorded.
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