A 864: etext transcription

This is one of a number of late manuscripts in which the opposite sides of the paper constitute separate textual spaces. The fair-copy text on A 864v appears to be an excerpt from a letter, or, possibly, a very brief but complete message; the rough-copy text on A 864 is an extrageneric fragment, possibly destined for incorporation into a poem, a letter, or a longer pensée. Dickinson revised the rough-copy text as she wrote, canceling "occupations" and substituting "entertainments." This fragment was probably composed after Dickinson abandoned the fair-copy message-fragment and after the paper was torn and scissored. It is possible, however, that Dickinson wished to associate the two texts. The scissoring has been done carefully—only the cross of the "T" of "Thank" has been sheared off—perhaps suggesting that she cut the document herself. The nature of the association, if indeed an association exists, remains unknown and is probably unrecoverable.