The Soul Selects Her Own Society

The Soul selects her own Society —

Then — shuts the Door —

To her divine Majority —

Present no more —

Unmoved — she notes the Chariots — pausing —

At her low Gate —

Unmoved — an Emperor be kneeling

Upon her Mat —

I’ve known her — from an ample nation —

Choose One —

Then — close the Valves of her attention —

Like Stone —

Several interwoven themes define Dickinson’s meditation:

The poem celebrates strength, decisiveness, and the quiet majesty of personal choice, portraying the soul as both selective and self-sufficient.