What If I Say I Shall Not Wait!
(1992)- Music by Richard Pearson Thomas
- Text by Emily Dickinson
"What If I Say I Shall Not Wait!" is the second song of Richard Pearson Thomas' song cycle At Last, To Be Identified. The cycle sets the poetry of Emily Dickinson.
What If I Say I Shall Not Wait (poem 277)
by Emily Dickinson
What if I say I shall not wait!
What if I burst the fleshly Gate —
And pass escaped — to thee!
What if I file this Mortal — off —
See where it hurt me — That's enough —
And wade in Liberty!
They cannot take me — any more!
Dungeons can call — and Guns implore
Unmeaning — now — to me —
As laughter — was — an hour ago —
Or Laces — or a Travelling Show —
Or who died — yesterday!
