Lyric Poem · Childhood

Who were "the Father and the Son"

by Emily Dickinson

Reading room

1Who were "the Father and the Son"

2We pondered when a child,

3And what had they to do with us

4And when portentous told

5With inference appalling

6By Childhood fortified

7We thought, at least they are no worse

8Than they have been described.

9Who are "the Father and the Son"

10Did we demand Today

11"The Father and the Son" himself

12Would doubtless specify —

13But had they the felicity

14When we desired to know.

15We better Friends had been, perhaps,

16Than time ensue to be —

17We start — to learn that we believe

18But once — entirely —

19Belief, it does not fit so well

20When altered frequently —

21We blush, that Heaven if we achieve —

22Event ineffable —

23We shall have shunned until ashamed

24To own the Miracle —

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Quick facts

Poem: Who were "the Father and the Son"
Poet: Emily Dickinson
Length: 24 lines
Form: Lyric Poem
Themes: Childhood, Friendship, Peace

Craft notes

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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: 24 lines · 6 quatrains
Line length: Lines run 6-8 syllables (median 7). No single length dominates, which is normal once elision and contraction are in play.

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Author record: Emily Dickinson1830–1886
Source record: PoetryDBWho were "the Father and the Son" 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 05b899ed701c169a…
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Lyric Poem Childhood Friendship Peace

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