Dickinson, Emily: Triumph

Triumph may be of several kinds.

There 's triumph in the room

When that old imperator, Death,

By faith is overcome.

There's triumph of the finer mind

When truth, affronted long,

Advances calm to her supreme,

Her God her only throng.

A triumph when temptation's bribe

Is slowly handed back,

One eye upon the heaven renounced

And one upon the rack.

Severer triumph, by himself

Experienced, who can pass

Acquitted from that naked bar,

Jehovah's countenance!