If you were coming in the fall,I'd brush the summer by,With half a smile and half a spurn,As housewives do a fly.If I could see you in a year,I'd wind the months in balls,And put them each in separate drawers,Until their time befalls.
In Emily Dickinson's poem, she expresses a longing for an eventual reunion that highlights the bittersweet nature of waiting. If the person were to arrive in the fall, she suggests she would leave behind the summer season lightly, akin to how housewives deal with small nuisances. This illustrates her mixed feelings of anticipation and detachment.
She further imagines the passage of time, wishing she could store the months until they align with her desire to see this person. Each month is envisioned as a ball placed in a drawer, symbolizing her control over time and her hope for a future meeting. This reflects her deep yearning and the careful way she navigates her emotions regarding love and separation.
