Emily Dickinson

I'm Nobody! Who are you?

I'm nobody! Who are you?

Are you nobody too?

Then there's a pair of us — don't tell!

They'd banish us; you know!

 

How dreary to be somebody!

How public like a frog

To tell one's name the livelong day

To an admiring bog!

 

First Published Version (Posthumous) 1891

 

I'm Nobody! Who are you?

Are you - Nobody - too?

Then there's a pair of us!

Dont tell! they'd advertise - you know!

 

How dreary - to be - Somebody!

How public - like a Frog -

To tell one's name - the livelong June -

To an admiring Bog!

 

Corrected version from author's mss. 1999 by R.W. Franklin