What If I Say

What if I say I shall not wait?
What if I burst the fleshly gate
And pass, escaped, to thee?

What if I file this mortal off,
See where it hurt me, - that’s enough, -
And wade in liberty?

They cannot take me any more, -
Dungeons may call, and guns implore;
Unmeaning, now, to me

As laughter was an hour ago,
Or laces, or a traveling show,
Or who died yesterday!

- Emily Dickinson