Ample Nation

I've known her — from an ample nation —

Choose One —

Then — close the Valves of her attention —

Like Stone —

These lines are from the poem "I've known a Lady" by Emily Dickinson. The poem describes the speaker's experience of knowing a woman who can intensely focus her attention.

Your lines suggest that this woman can focus on and then shut out all distractions. The phrase "close the Valves of her attention — Like Stone" means that once she has made her choice, she can maintain her focus with unwavering intensity, like an immovable stone.

The poem can be interpreted as a celebration of the power of focus and concentration and a reminder of the importance of choosing one's priorities and staying true to them. The woman described in the poem is presented as a model of determination and resilience, and her example inspires the speaker to strive for similar qualities in her own life.

N E X T

"There's a certain Slant of light"

There's a certain Slant of light,

Winter Afternoons —

That oppresses, like the Heft

Of Cathedral Tunes —