These are the Signs to Nature's Inns : Emily Dickinson's Nature Mysticism

Entrance to the Children's Garden, Hudson River Park, NYC

^{(Click anywhere on on the garden diagram below to to to that section of the labyrinth)}

Circuit IV - (30) These are the Signs to Nature's Inns (J-1077) (F-1106)

⁽¹⁾ These are the signs to Nature's inns,
Her invitation broad
⁽²⁾ To whomsoever famishing
To taste her mystic bread.

⁽³⁾ These are the rites of Nature's house,
The hospitality
⁽⁴⁾ That opens with an equal width
To beggar and to bee.

⁽⁵⁾ For sureties of her staunch estate,
Her undecaying cheer,
⁽⁶⁾ The purple in the East is set
And in the North, the star.

^{(Below: an original manuscript version

without editing or imposed lineation.)}

⁽¹⁾ These are the Signs to
Nature's inns –
Her invitation broad
⁽²⁾ To Whomsoever famishing
To taste her mystic
Bread –
⁽³⁾ These are the rites
of Nature's House –
The Hospitality
⁽⁴⁾ That opens with an
equal width
To Beggar and to Bee.

⁽⁵⁾ For Sureties of her
staunch Estate
Her undecaying Cheer,
⁽⁶⁾ The Purple in the
East is set
And in the North, the
Star –

~Emily Dickinson

Commentary adapted from Emily Dickinson's Poems & Letters

^(1-2-signs) "Emblem is immeasurable — that is why it is better
than fulfillment, which can be drained." ~ (L #819)

^(1-6) "O matchless Earth, we underrate the chance
to dwell in Thee." ~ (L #347)

^(1-6) "Nature, the gentlest mother is, impatient of no child,
the feeblest or the waywardest — her admonition mild."
~ (J-0790) (F-0741)

^(1-6) "Nature in chivalry — Nature in charity — Nature in
equity — the Rose ordained!" ~ (J-0034) (F-0010)

⁽²⁾ "Has All — a codicil?" ~ (L #246)

^(3-4) "What tenements of clover are fitting for the bee,
what edifices azure for butterflies and me." ~ (J-1338) (F-1358)

^(3-4) "Immortality as a guest is sacred." ~ (L #644)

^(3-6) "How mighty 'twas — to be a guest in this stupendous place —
the parlor — of the day." ~ (J-0304) (F-0572)

⁽⁴⁾ "We are very small, Abiah — I think we grow still smaller —
this tiny, insect life the portal to another; it seems strange —
strange indeed. I'm afraid we are all unworthy, yet we shall
'enter in.'" ~ (L 39)

^{(5-6 dandelions gold)} "We should not mind so small a flower except
it quiet bring our little garden that we lost back to the lawn again."
~ (J-0081) (F-0082)

^(5-6) "God bless the sunshine in Loo's room . . ." ~ (L #737)

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Children's Garden, Hudson River Park, NYC