I like to see it lap the miles,
And lick the valleys up,
And stop to feed itself at tanks;
And then, prodigious, step
Around a pile of mountains,
And, supercilious, peer
In shanties by the sides of roads;
And then a quarry pare
To fit its sides, and crawl between,
Complaining all the while
In horrid, hooting stanza;
Then chase itself down hill
And neigh like Boanerges;
Then, punctual as a star,
Stop—docile and omnipotent—
At its own stable door.
Poems by Emily Dickinson (1891) | Emily Dickinson (1830–1886)
Suggestions
Have your students do one or more of the following:
- Read the poem aloud.
- Clap your hands in rhythm as the poem is read. Does it sound like a train?
- Copy the poem in your copybook.
- Learn more about Boanerges. Is it a fitting name?
- To what is Dickinson comparing the train?
- Learn more about trains.
- Explore another poem by Dickinson.
Additional Resources
Poetry for Young People: Emily Dickinson
We love these books. The point of the book is to introduce young students to poetry at an early age. It takes the mystery out of poetry, making it accessible. So don’t expect detailed poetical analysis. Simply read and enjoy. There is a fruitful payoff over time….
Vocabulary and Analysis (archived)
