I think the longest Hour of all by Emily Dickinson

Тягучей всех, наверно, час,
где дрог приспел парад,
и ждём мы экипаж, томясь...
Вот-вот придёт пора

обид, что праздник наступил -
на стрелки, обломив,-
секунд бы пусть не упустил,
да кончен долгий миг...

Считает маятник - тик-так -
как первоклашки - вслух...
В гостиной близящийся шаг
ускорил сердца стук...

Но - отдан мой служенью долг,
избыв любовью суть,
прерву я скромной скрипки молвь
и в холод унесу.




(Случай для стиха мог быть и частный,  с Сэмом Боулзом,
но размышление общее, о тленном и вечном.)
[David Preest:
Emily is possibly describing an occasion when the Cars (= the railway carriages)
 have arrived at the station, and the Dickinson household is waiting for some
important visitor to arrive from the station in the Coach (= a light, horse-drawn
carriage). The seconds pass with agonising slowness, but the ‘slowest instant
ends,’ and ‘as the Pendulum begins to count,’ the household assembles in the
hall, with hearts crowded with anticipation. But Emily, who wanted to give
the visitor a welcome of love as much as anybody else, at the last moment
picks up her violin of welcome and ‘further North removes’ (= scuttles upstairs
to her bedroom). If the poem does mean something like this, it is hard not
to take the expected visitor to be Samuel Bowles on his return from a long
period of absence in Europe (early April to 16 November, 1862).]

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I think the longest Hour of all by Emily Dickinson

I think the longest Hour of all
Is when the Cars have come --
And we are waiting for the Coach –
It seems as though the Time               

Indignant -- that the Joy was come –
Did block the Gilded Hands --
And would not let the Seconds by –
But slowest instant -- ends --

The Pendulum begins to count --
Like little Scholars -- loud --
The steps grow thicker -- in the Hall --
The Heart begins to crowd --

Then I -- my timid service done --
Tho' service 'twas, of Love --
Take up my little Violin --
And further North -- remove.